Family dies in Nor-Cal..

http://news.yahoo.com/parents-swept-sea-effort-save-son-dog-105320688.html

An all to common story. Many years ago I was driving down the Sonoma Coast. One family member went in than another to try to save the first and so on. Eight members of a large family gathering died that day. It makes me more than crazy when I see young children playing in shallow surf or near waters edge knowing the next ground swell could take them in. Most people don't get the fact that every so often a wave much much larger than the working swell can hit.

The dog got out of the water on its own, Jones said.

I just knew it.

The family affected has since been identified. They are locals in Humboldt and live not too far from me. I didn't know them, but many people I know do know them and today has seen an outpouring of grief and support.

Also, I should know better than to read the comment section on yahoo. Sad, sad people.

crash, you and Abking are from that area.  Anything unsuspectingly dangerous about that stretch of beach?   Is it a shore dump?  Rollers?  Mush? 

Read about this so many times - its turrible.  And like Eric writes, the stinkin dog always makes it out.  Wife has been told, under any and all circumstances, the only person going in after the mutt is me.  We swim at the beach throughout the year, but stories like this make me gulp.  Even alone, swimming through 10 footers would be tough for me.   

An all to common story. Many years ago I was driving down the Sonoma Coast. One family member went in than another to try to save the first and so on. Eight members of a large family gathering died that day. It makes me more than crazy when I see young children playing in shallow surf or near waters edge knowing the next ground swell could take them in.

Reminded me of a similar incident couple years back on Lake Isabella, near Bako.  Family goes wading in the lake, one kid bounces too far, loses footing.  First, dad attempted rescue, then another attempts to rescue the first rescuer, and so on.  Whole dang family perished one after the next.  In a lake.  Mere feet from shore.  Sux. 

crash, you and Abking are from that area.  Anything unsuspectingly dangerous about that stretch of beach?   Is it a shore dump?  Rollers?  Mush? 

Very steep slope shore dump.  The waves were up this weekend too.  There aren't many steeper beaches in the whole county.  Black sands beach just north of Shelter Cove comes to mind but that is about it.

When I first hear of something like this happening, I immediately assume it is out of towners.  I was pretty surprised that it was locals - that beach is posted and known treacherous, people have drown there before.  Hard to say what any of us would do in the heat of the situation, but the thought gives me nightmares. 

Crash got it right - bad beach where no one swims.  Very sad.

Wow, girl goes to the beach with her family and comes back an orphan. F***ing tragic, very heart wrenching.

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Gnarly.
RIP to the well meaning folks, and sympathies to the survivors.

Incredibly sad.  We were up at a cabin in Trinidad the weekend before Thanksgiving and we went to the beach everyday.  I had to make sure the kids understood to not go near the surf. 

I've surfed there a couple times when it was smaller. Wouldn't even dream of paddling out there if it was 10ft. Prayers for the family & RIP.

rest in peace

Very, very sad.

http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Family-swept-out-to-sea-in-attempt-to-save-dog-4068719.php#photo-3799008

some more info, including links to pay tribute.  so sad