After Saving Son, Man Drowns at Black Sands Beach, Community Calls for Memorial Sign
A man drowned off Black Sands beach Sunday around 10:30 a.m., said Cheryl Anthony of the Shelter Cove Volunteer Fire Department (SCVFD.) According to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, he died while attempting to save his son. The boy had fallen into the water. The 13-year-old boy was assisted out by his father but had a broken arm. According to the Sheriff’s Office,
On March 15, 2015 at about 11:25 AM the Coroner’s Office was notified of an accidental drowning that had just occurred in the area of Black Sands Beach, Shelter Cove.
A family on vacation from Gardiner, Montana, was at the beach when a thirteen year old family member slipped on a rock and fell into the ocean. The boy’s father went into the water and was able to push his son out of the water and back onto the beach. Before the father could exit the water, a large wave came in and forced him under water and out of sight.
A short while later the body was seen face down in the water but too far out for any of the witnesses to attempt a rescue.
The Shelter Cove Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and was able to recover the body out of the water. Resuscitation attempts were made but the subject was eventually declared deceased at the scene.
The deceased subject has been identified as Steven Arthur Bierle, age 44, from Gardiner, Montana.
The boy was stabilized by the SCVFD. He and his brother were transported by ambulance for treatment at the hospital.
“It was a sad morning,” Anthony said.
Some Shelter Cove residents are suggesting that a memorial listing the names of those who have died on the beach might be more effective than the multiple formal signs warning of the dangerous conditions.
Cheryl Anthony wrote that deaths and near drownings are a constant worry for her department. She said,We have begged for years for more signs. There are several up already, but people ignore them…We get so frustrated.
Last week I got two calls…telling about people way out on the rocks, fishing and getting splashed with waves.
I went down after they had been already warned by Coffee Shop personnel, and they just kept fishing and said ” yea–we know… .” A while later, one of our board members saw them get covered with a wave , and they finally climbed up and left. They were lucky.
After helping with the body recovery and assisting the grieving family, Anthony said that the members of the Shelter Cove Volunteer Fire Department continued with already scheduled classes for the community of CPR. She wrote Monday,
When this was over, we had a scheduled CPR class for the community, which we were able pull off even though everyone was so emotionally exhausted.
We are thankful that the boys are alive, but what sticks in my mind is that today, two little boys are waking up without their Dad. That is a real tragedy.
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I have set up a Face Book page to promote a possible Memorial” to be placed at Black Sands Beach. Calls are being made to use proper legal permissions etc. If you are interested or would like to donate to this in the future let me know . There is local support for this.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1450628035227841/
Maryellen, I’m interested in donating and helping. Keep me in mind.
Thank You, I will.
This is a great idea.
Is there a list somewhere of people (and Dogs) that have been washed away and drowned on Black Sands. I know of many in my time here in SoHum. I think that would make a fairly impressive list.
There is no way to protect yourself against sneaker waves, unless you are paying close attention.
Was this accident caused by a sneaker wave? Or was it simply a fall off the rock and a rescue? Sad, at any rate.
I called the Coroner’s Office. They don’t have a master list. Deputy Coroner Enright said that it sounded as if the boy had been hit by a large wave.
Thanks Kym, getting a count will be somewhat difficult from what I have gathered so far. Fire and Rescue may have good info but not necessary complete.
I suggest making a list of just the recent deaths. Ones that occurred after the internet was in common use will be easier to research.
thanks Kym, great sugesstion
I believe the son fell off one of the rocks into the strong high tide and the father went in after him, got the son out of the water, but a large wave came in and took the father under.
I have told tourists to get their kids out of the water at Blacks Sands. then I walked north,when I came back they were playing in the waves again. My brother Ross got swept off Black Sands and got rescued by a boat.
This is an article that a family memeber shared. It’s a wonderful tribute.
http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/columnists/stu-whitney/2015/03/18/whitney-fathers-heroism-ends-tragedy/24990477/
He sounds like such a decent human being.
[…] In March of this year, yet another rogue wave snatched a 13-year-old Montana boy off a rock at Black Sands Beach and his father, though managing to save his son, drowned in the rescue. […]