SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard suspended its search for a 54-year-old male near Half Moon Bay after a 22-hour search that began at about 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
The man reportedly was swept into the ocean by a wave on Martins Beach that also swept out a 5-year-old girl who was recovered by San Mateo County Fire personnel. The girl was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced deceased.
Coast Guard search crews from Air Station San Francisco, Station Golden Gate, and Coast Guard Cutter Hawksbill searched a combined eight search pattern sorties covering 100 square miles.
“The decision to suspend search efforts is one of the hardest decisions to make, but our crews searched for nearly 24 hours without any sightings of the missing person,” said Capt. Jordan Baldueza, deputy commander, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends affected by this very tragic event.”
The Coast Guard received the initial report at 1:20 p.m., Saturday and the Station Golden Gate 47-foot motor lifeboat crew arrived on scene at 2:14 p.m. The MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew arrived on scene at 3:10 p.m. and conducted five searches between refueling needs. An aircrew also conducted a first-light search early Sunday morning. The Hawksbill crew arrived on scene at 11:45 p.m. and searched all night and continued searching until the decision to suspend at 12:38 p.m., Sunday.