70-Year-Old Woman Dies After Wave Sweeps Her from Rock and Into Ocean at Calif. Beach

A 70-year-old woman has died after being swept out to sea at a California beach.

At approximately 2 p.m. local time on Monday, Dec. 22, authorities responded to reports that a woman “was knocked off a rock by a large wave and swept into the ocean” at MacKerricher Beach in MacKerricher State Park, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) said in a release.

“The Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center was contacted by CalFire Howard Forest Dispatch Center, requesting deputies respond to assist medical and California State Parks personnel,” the MCSO said. The woman was rescued by bystanders and brought back to shore, according to the release.

“The female who was rescued from the ocean became unresponsive and lost consciousness after being brought to the nearby beach,” the MCSO said. She later died at the scene.

“Advanced life-saving measures were performed but were unsuccessful and the female subject was pronounced deceased by fire and medical personnel at the scene,” the MCSO said.

Police are still attempting to identify the victim. She was described as a white woman in her 70s with no unique identifying features such as scars or tattoos, and she did not have identifying documents with her at the time of her death.

“The incident was witnessed by bystanders who rescued the subject from the ocean,” the MCSO said, adding that “no suspicious circumstances were found at the beach.”

A coroner’s investigation determined that the woman was not accompanied by anyone at the time of the incident, nor did anyone visiting the area know of her.

“Additional investigative efforts were conducted to include checking unattended vehicles left at the parking area of MacKerricher State Park and inquiring with other local law enforcement agencies regarding possible missing persons reports,” the MCSO said.

A post-mortem examination is scheduled to be conducted next week. The MCSO is investigating the incident.