Search Underway for Missing Swimmer After Reported Shark Incident in California
U.S. Coast Guard Joins Search for Missing Swimmer in California
In a dramatic search operation on Monday, multiple agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, launched a mission to locate a missing swimmer in the wake of a reported shark encounter near San Francisco, California.
According to Coast Guard San Francisco Public Information Officer Grace Patton, a concerned eyewitness alerted authorities about the incident on Sunday at Wildcat Beach, situated within the Point Reyes National Seashore. The incident was initially reported as a shark attack, but authorities had yet to confirm it on Monday.
The National Park Service declared that there was an “active search and rescue” underway in the Wildcat Beach area after receiving reports of a missing person in the water on Sunday. Later in the day, they confirmed that the search continued for the individual last seen at Wildcat Beach.
Marin County firefighters stated that three men had been swimming when one of them encountered a shark, as reported by CBS San Francisco. The other swimmers informed first responders of a significant amount of blood in the water, with the swimmers being approximately 25 to 50 yards away from the shoreline.
The U.S. Coast Guard had deployed considerable resources, searching over 21 square nautical miles under ideal conditions. However, as of Sunday, they had not yet succeeded in locating the missing swimmer. Their efforts continued into Monday, as they remained committed to the search.
The missing swimmer, whose identity remains undisclosed, is believed to be approximately 50 years old. Marin County Fire Department Senior Captain Ben Ghisletta expressed hope that the swimmer could be found despite the serious nature of the incident.
Authorities also revealed that the three swimmers, including the missing person, were part of a larger group of campers near the beach. Wildcat Beach, situated deep within the Phillip Burton Wilderness in the southern part of the national seashore, poses potential hazards such as hypothermia, sneaker waves, and rip currents, all of which visitors should be cautious of when visiting Point Reyes Beaches, as mentioned on the National Park Service’s website.