Couple swept to sea while trying to save son, dog
EUREKA, Calif. (AP) — A couple died and their 16-year-old son went missing after being swept into sea in Northern California while trying to save their dog, authorities said Sunday.
The family was at Big Lagoon, a beach north of Eureka, Saturday afternoon when the dog chased after a thrown stick and got pulled into the ocean by eight to ten foot waves, said Dana Jones, a state Parks and Recreation district superintendent.
Jones said the boy went after the dog, prompting his father to go after them. She said the teenager was able to get out, but when he didn't see his father, he and his mother went into the water looking for him.
"Both were dragged into the ocean," Jones said.
The Times-Standard reports (http://bit.ly/UmSP2P) the couple's daughter called police.
Jones said a park ranger had to run a half mile to get to the beach because his car wasn't made to handle the terrain. When he arrived, he wasn't able to get to them because of the high surf, she said.
Rescuers eventually retrieved the mother's body and the father's body washed up.
The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter and two motor life boats to search for the teenager, but the aerial search was suspended Saturday evening by thick coastal fog.
A call seeking the status of the Coast Guard's search on Sunday wasn't immediately returned.
The dog got out of the water on its own, Jones said.
The family was at Big Lagoon, a beach north of Eureka, Saturday afternoon when the dog chased after a thrown stick and got pulled into the ocean by eight to ten foot waves, said Dana Jones, a state Parks and Recreation district superintendent.
Jones said the boy went after the dog, prompting his father to go after them. She said the teenager was able to get out, but when he didn't see his father, he and his mother went into the water looking for him.
"Both were dragged into the ocean," Jones said.
The Times-Standard reports (http://bit.ly/UmSP2P) the couple's daughter called police.
Jones said a park ranger had to run a half mile to get to the beach because his car wasn't made to handle the terrain. When he arrived, he wasn't able to get to them because of the high surf, she said.
Rescuers eventually retrieved the mother's body and the father's body washed up.
The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter and two motor life boats to search for the teenager, but the aerial search was suspended Saturday evening by thick coastal fog.
A call seeking the status of the Coast Guard's search on Sunday wasn't immediately returned.
The dog got out of the water on its own, Jones said.
That's a terrible tragedy to lose the entire family that way. Â If anything, there are some lessons for everyone else. Â I constantly see people throwing toys and sticks into the heavy surf for their dogs, and see the dogs struggling into the waves to retrieve it.. sometimes barely making it out. Â Dogs are not made to jump into the pounding surf, they do it because they trust you not to put them in harm's way, and frankly... most dogs would chase a toy over a cliff if you threw it (and yeah, that's happened, too.) Â Some breeds just can't swim, either. But you see this all the time. Even if your dog is one that loves the waves, you have to use common sense, and Northern California ocean water is frigid and the beaches are treacherous. Â If the Ranger had to run to get to the spot, then it was obviously a remote area of the coast.Â
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And, as awful as it seems, 99% of the time people die saving their dog... the dog gets out okay. Â Even though the dog may get into distress, they have more of a survival instinct, and tend to somehow float out of danger, while humans flail and fight instead. Â If you're caught in a riptide, swim across parallel to the beach, to get to a place you can get out. But frankly, I have a feeling that the water was just too cold. Â So if you're playing with your dog and the water is too cold for you to safely swim in, or too treacherous, DON'T entice your dog into the waves. Â Seems pretty simple. Â And sadly, don't keep sending more people out into the water UNLESS they have some sort of safety equipment with them, because unless you're in a wetsuit, or have a floatation device, or are a trained lifeguard, you'll never rescue someone else. Â Sad, but true. Â A horrible tragedy like this, and so many others, can be avoided. Â
Very sad.
You've got to know how to get out of a riptide if youre down at an ocean beach, swim parallel to the shore until you get out from the current then swim in. Sad story...
 @MossMan and don't entice your dog into water that you couldn't safely get into, if there was a problem.Â
You serious packerscougs? I would love to me you face to face, assuming you leave your parents basement. Sucks to not have feelings for anything but yourself. BTW, great game packers. Aaron Rodgers looked like level 3 pedo...similar to what you showcase yourself as.
@KyAl ...Excellent response! BTW...Rodgers does look like a level 3 with that hair on his face...tee hee!
@KyAl Aww just ignore him. He's one of the regular trolls on here. Likes to try to get folks riled up and 9 times out of 10 he fails miserably. Just ignore him as you do the other trolls.
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 @PackersCougsBravesSounders While your comment is beyond tacky, you make a clumsy point. At some point the family should have realized that it was foolish to jump into the water again, as they'd be no use to the other person in the water. Better to go and get help.Â
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And beyond foolish and cruel for the to throw a stick into 8 to 10 food waves. That was just idiotic. So I'll give you that one. YOu don't throw a toy for your beloved pet into surf that you wouldn't or couldn't navigate yourself -- common sense would have changed the entire day. Â Â But yeah.. you're a total jerk for trying to make a joke out of it, but I guess you knew thatÂ
 @PackersCougsBravesSounders you are a sorry excuse for a human. i would give my life to save a family member because i love them not because i am a moron i honestly would say that you are the moron and i would bet that you would sit there and watch your family drownedÂ
 @PackersCougsBravesSounders If my dog were to fall in Puget Sound, I'd dive right in and try to rescue her, because she is part of my family, and has a good SOUL. YOU however, I'd have to ponder it for a while. "Gee.....P.C.B.S. (PCB's have been outlawed by the way) fell in the water! Should I jump in to save him/her? I dunno, that water looks AWFUL cold. Naw......probably wouldn't appreciate it anyhow" You're SUCH a tool.
@PackersCougsBravesSounders One thing IS for sure about this: It appears you have some first-hand knowledge of the "moron" aspect of it.
Trying to be funny? FAIL
Trying to make sense? FAIL
Trying to be entertaining? Not in the slightest
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Which makes me ask the only logical question here (and you'll have to excuse me if it makes me sound like a moron) - why on earth are you bothering with this board?
 @PackersCougsBravesSounders You have a serious problem.  And little to no humanity, if this post is any indication.  People in an emotionally charged, emergent situation don't often make a considered, rational determination if something is safe for them to attempt: they do it on impulse. If they survive, they're called heroes.  If they don't, I guess they're called "morons" in your world.
 @PackersCougsBravesSounders Um, these were people trying to save family members from drowning you no-class lowlife troll. Obviously you had no good family members as roll models and lousy DNA to boot.
Just flag it as offensive and move on, folks. Â Trolls thrive on abuse and attention.
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 @Three Phased Agreed, I did.
 @Sanctuary As difficult as it may be to ignore him, please don't feed the troll...
 @justmyopinion  @Sanctuary Agreed...just leave it hanging out for all to witness the abject misery of it's soul.
Now THESE were some good people. Very sad that they died, but they did it while trying to save a family member. Most honorable way to go out......in my humble opinion.
They were doing what any of us who love our family members would do. I'm sorry it turned out so badly for the human family members.
the dog survived. Holy crap, thanks dog :(
 @Rick4001CS They threw the stick where the dog ran into trouble trying to retrieve it; the dog didn't just randomly head out that way.I feel horrible for them, but the dog trusted them and was only trying to make them happy by chasing and playing, and now it's lost its best friends in the world.Â
@MargeGunderson That definitely puts things into perspective.