Shelter Cove Drowning

One man dead, mother in critical condition in Shelter Cove drowning
The Times-Standard
Posted: 01/28/2011 10:27:17 AM PST

The U.S. Coast Guard reported that one man drowned off Shelter Cove Thursday afternoon while a woman who tried to save him made it back to shore injured.

The Humboldt County Coroner's office said the drowning victim is a 29-year-old man from Arkansas, and that it was his mother who tried to save him. She is 55 years old and is currently in critical condition at a Redding hospital.

The pair were visiting Black Sands Beach and the son had apparently swam out when he was caught in a rip current, the Coroner's Office said.

His mother tried to save him, but had to get back to the beach where she was assisted by Shelter Cove Fire Department personnel. The Coroner's Office said she experienced serious hypothermia. She was airlifted to Mercy Hospital.

http://www.times-standard.com/ci_17227971

This sad story was prominent in the news up here, of course.   

While it's clearly a tragedy, it's hard for many of us locals to understand how someone could have such poor judgement regarding swimming at Black Sands Beach - it's a steep shorebreak where even on calm days you can hear grapefruit-sized rocks churning down in the pit as the wash recedes off the beach.  NO ONE swims at Black Sands Beach, and there are clearly-posted warnings about the surf there.

2 miles south down in the Cove my kids have been Boogieboarding since they could barely swim.  That's where you go in the water at Shelter Cove unless you're ab diving off the rocks along the main drag.

Black Sands Beach - it's a steep shorebreak where even on calm days you can hear grapefruit-sized rocks churning down in the pit as the wash recedes off the beach.

I saw it on a "small" surf day & I can say this description is right on. The sound & impact of the shorebreak was intimidating, even after week up on the lost coast.
Sad, sad story.

Bum deal.  I also heard of the gal who drowned up by Big Lagoon last week.  RIP.

While it's clearly a tragedy, it's hard for many of us locals to understand how someone could have such poor judgement regarding swimming at Black Sands Beach...

The fact that they were from Arkansas probably has a lot to do with it. For all we know it could've been their first time at the ocean.

The fact that they were from Arkansas probably has a lot to do with it. For all we know it could've been their first time at the ocean.

Not to stereotype but I was thinking the exact same thing.

I too first thought that it could have possibly been his first time at the ocean.  I clicked the link and read under the comments and the guys brother posted up that his brother went to College or something in Arkansas and was originally from the area.  Still doesnt make sense, if your a local you should probably know better, but who really knows.  I could tell from pictures of the place that its not a swimming beach.  The comments seem legit, but after all, this is the internet.

That beach has crazy waves! The day we went there I would'nt let my son anywhere near the waters reach. You can just tell looking at it that its got bad mojo

Bummer man. Rest in Peace. Glad his mom survived.
It's a harsh reminder = don't swim at Black Sands beach!

Obviously a bit late for this lesson:   If the locals are not in the water, there's probably a good reason. I've made that calculation a few times myself.

Australia...many days bike touring in the interior to arrive at the much anticipated beautiful beaches. Hmmm ... not one person in the water. Why, for gods sake?

Oh, box jellyfish and saltwater crocs, that's why. Okay, maybe just grab a beer then.

Sorry to hear of the tragedy.