Pounding surf kills man trapped beneath debris on beach, California authorities say

High surf killed a man trapped by debris on a state beach near Monterey, California officials told news outlets.

Two others are missing after reportedly being swept away by waves at nearby beaches, KPIX reported. And part of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed in the heavy waves.

The National Weather Service issued a high surf warning for Tuesday, Dec. 24, for the Northern California coastline.

Rescuers responded to reports of a man trapped beneath debris on Sunset State Beach at about 11:30 a.m. Monday, KSBW reported.

Bystanders and rescuers freed the man, who was later pronounced dead at a hospital, The Mercury News reported.

Sunset State Beach is about a 30-mile drive northeast from Monterey.

At Marina State Beach, about a 10-mile drive northeast from Monterey, heavy waves pulled a man into the ocean at about noon Monday, KPIX reported. Onlookers tried to rescue the man but were thwarted by strong currents and large waves.

A search for the missing man was later called off because of dangerous conditions, the station said.

Waves reportedly swept another person off rocks at Pebble Beach, south of Monterey, according to KPIX. That search also was suspended.

About 150 feet of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed into the ocean amid strong waves just before 1 p.m. Monday, KGO reported. Three people who fell into the water were rescued.

Monterey is about a 120-mile drive south from San Francisco.

This story was originally published December 24, 2024 at 8:03 AM.