Search suspended for 12-year-old swept out to sea - San Francisco Chronicle

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After searching into the early morning, then again after sunrise Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard called off its search Tuesday morning for a 12-year-old Fremont boy who was swept out to sea from a Half Moon Bay beach Monday.

The 12-year-old, his father and his 8-year-old brother were sitting on the sand at Cowell Ranch State Beach when a rogue wave hit them and dragged them into the ocean around 3:42 p.m. The strong surf and churning high waves roughed up the younger boy and the father and tossed them back on the shore while dragging the 12-year-old out to sea.

Friends and family members set up a Facebook page to help in the search for the boy, identifying him as Arunay Pruthi.

Arunay’s disappearance is the latest in a series of tragic “sneaker wave” incidents along the Bay Area coast. Since the start of the year, at least four people have been swept to sea from San Mateo County to Sonoma County. Several more have been rescued from the cold ocean waters and waves taller than 20 feet.

Dangerous surf conditions are common along the Bay Area coasts, particularly in San Mateo County. But the waves can be higher and the undertow stronger during the winter months when high surf warnings frequently occur. Rogue waves, unexpectedly large waves also known as sneaker waves, are always a threat.

“It’s almost become a cliché,” said Lt. Toni Pehrson, a Coast Guard spokeswoman. “But never turn your back on the waves. It is definitely a good idea to keep an eye on what’s happening and to pay attention to your kids.”

Search teams from the Coast Guard, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department, Cal Fire, California State Parks and the California Highway Patrol used boats, helicopters, drones and thermal imaging devices to search for Pruthi until about 1 a.m.

“They were out there well into the night,” said Rosemerry Blankswade, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department. “But they did not find him.”

Pehrson said the search was suspended around 10:30 a.m. and will be resumed if the agency receives any tips.

Arunay’s family is continuing to search, distributing posters with his image and contact information, and is asking for volunteers who will help comb the coastline on foot or using drones.

“We’re looking for volunteers, drone operators, anyone who can help locate him,” said his aunt, Seema Sangwan, who was at the beach when the incident happened. “We’re just hoping to recover him, whatever state he is in.”

Authorities said the group was sitting or standing on the beach when an unexpectedly large wave smacked into them and pulled them to sea. Other beachgoers immediately called 911; the father and younger boy were able to struggle back to shore. According to authorities, rescue crews briefly spotted the boy about 100 yards offshore before the waves dragged him under.

Sangwan said the family hopes the Coast Guard will resume the search.

Arunay’s disappearance was the second on the San Mateo County Coast in a little more than a week. On Jan. 10, a couple fishing were swept from their perch on rocks at Pescadero State Beach. The husband was able to make it back to shore, but the wife is still missing.

A 40-year-old man died earlier this month trying to save his two children who were caught in a sneaker wave in Sonoma County and are presumed dead. A San Jose man in his 30s was rock scrambling in the Marin Headlands on Sunday when he was pulled into the ocean by a sneaker wave and remains missing.

Chronicle staff writer Vanessa Arredondo contributed to this report.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan

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January 20, 2021 at 05:15AM
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Search suspended for 12-year-old swept out to sea - San Francisco Chronicle

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