salt point drowning

A friend was on a group walk yesterday at Salt Point and spotted an inflatable very close to the breaker line fishing. She thought that they were way too close and sure enough got flipped by a breaking wave. Two guys made it to shore, one sunk. She watched his head bob up and down briefly then sink. CG alerted. Copter sent. Two survivors lifted to top of bluffs. My friend spoke to the youngest one about 18 years old and lent him her jacket and cell phone to call home in Sacramento to his parents. Russian's she thought. What goes through the mind of some people on the water I'll never know but fishing on the breaker line at Salt  Point is pure ignorance and of course, no PFD for at least one of the three is absolute foolishness. Darwin.
If I find out more after speaking to my friend today I will post. She was quite upset when she called after getting home.

RIP!

Happens every year at Salt Point.  Sad for the family but Darwin was right.

Oh geez. I hope your friend is ok, that is a very traumatic event to witness. Images of this will likely stick with her for a while, and I hope she has someone to talk about this with.

It is crazy how ignorant some people are - completely oblivious to the environment around them and how dangerous of a place the ocean really is. The two that made it out are extremely lucky.

Sad. RIP.

Honestly, enough of the Darwin jokes. It makes light of a horrible tragedy, and these people don't need any shaming right now.

I don't see any Darwin jokes here, simply a statement of fact. The young survivor that my friend spoke to said the person who drowned did not have a life jacket on but the the two survivors were wearing life jackets.  I don't believe the  drowned person was.... at least that's what the kid said.
 Eyewitness quote. " and only his head was barely bobbing about the water line from the very beginning, probably being weighed down by shoes and clothing, but when he was lifted up he was naked.  The visual will never leave my brain.  A naked body dangling from the helicopter line like a fish on a line.  I had to turn away."

I dont think Darwin comments are appropriate at a time when a young man has lost his life and a family is grieving. My opinion !!

If you read what was written you will see that the young man lived and spoke to my friend. An older male withoud PFD died.

My mistake for not reading completely. Young or old, still not warranted to me.

Definitely a grave decision on his part.

I just find it strange to have more sympathy for a bystander than the person who died or their family.

I just find it strange to have more sympathy for a bystander than the person who died or their family.

Well put.

I just find it strange to have more sympathy for a bystander than the person who died or their family.

Well put.

Not at all what I meant by my post. The family that lost someone is certainly going through a tough time right now, and my heart goes out to them.


That said, it is easy to overlook someone who is witness to such a tragedy.  Just trying to emphasize that all sorts of crazy thoughts and feelings can come and impact someone, days and weeks later, after witnessing such an event. Just because she wasn't on the boat or in the water doesn't mean she wasn't involved and won't carry some part of this.

Nitpicking each other's reactions to tragedy.

Must be wintertime.

Hearts and prayers for his family.

I just find it strange to have more sympathy for a bystander than the person who died or their family.

Well put.

Not at all what I meant by my post. The family that lost someone is certainly going through a tough time right now, and my heart goes out to them.


That said, it is easy to overlook someone who is witness to such a tragedy.  Just trying to emphasize that all sorts of crazy thoughts and feelings can come and impact someone, days and weeks later, after witnessing such an event. Just because she wasn't on the boat or in the water doesn't mean she wasn't involved and won't carry some part of this.

I feel you, SS. Nothing wrong with being concerned for your friend. Thanks again for posting.