The latest beach incident near the Santa Cruz Coast in the last two weeks involves a 17-year-old swimmer that went missing at Laguna Creek State Beach on Monday.
According to Gave McKenna, public safety superintendent for California State Parks, officials responded on Monday at around 5:55 in the afternoon to the reports of a missing teenager at the beach close to Davenport.
The superintendent said the swimmer, Cash Ebright, in black swim trunks, was last spotted body surfing with a friend.
His friend was not harmed in the incident.
Ebright was not located on Monday despite the immense search of authorities from the state parks, sheriff’s office, the Santa Cruz Fire Department and the California Highway Patrol. Officials said search-and-rescue operations for the missing swimmer resumed Tuesday.
In the last two weeks, two incidents, excluding the latest one, also have victims swept by forceful waves into the ocean near the Santa Cruz coast.
Some mile away from Laguna Creek Beach, a 30-year-old man died last week after he was swept into the waters at Panther State Beach. The victim was positioned on the rocks when he got swept. Two fours after being missing, he was found lifeless.
Another victim went missing last Sept. 12 after walking into the surf close to Davenport Beach. David Guzman, 26, of San Jose, was not yet located.
“It’s just tragic,” McKenna said, as reported by San Francisco Chronicle. “It’s really devastating for everyone involved and our hearts go out to the families of all involved.”
He added that dangerous situations in between summer and fall are present at far beaches located north of Santa Cruz, noting the unsteady winds, tides, and currents.