Wave Sweeps Two Georgia Youths Into the Ocean at Shelter Cove
![The 18-year-old girl and the 11-year-old boy that were swept into the ocean are in the center wearing a pink coat and a black and white coat respectively. [Photo provided by Shelter Cove Fire but Image taken by Deputy Tom Allman of the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_4855.jpg)
The 18-year-old girl and the 11-year-old boy that were swept into the ocean are in the center wearing a pink coat and a black and white coat respectively. [Photo provided by Shelter Cove Fire but image taken by Deputy Tom Allman of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department]
“They were walking along on the beach by the coffee shop,” Cheryl Antony, spokesperson for Shelter Cove Fire Department told us. “A wave got them and pulled them in…They were just terrified and just trying, trying, trying to get out [of the water].”
Someone on shore called 911. Emergency dispatch notified Deputy Tom Allman of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and the Coast Guard which is based in Eureka.
“Deputy Tom called us right away…,” Antony said. However, by the time the Fire Department arrived, one of the adults in the group had managed to help the youths out of the water.
According to Deputy Tom Allman, “All three clung to the rocks until another family member rescued them. It could have been a horrible day, but thanks to some quick thinking, all three were pulled from the mighty Pacific.”
“I think they were out there for several minutes,” Cheryl Antony explained. “By the time we got there, they were shivering and terrified–hypothermic…And it was foggy…We got their clothes off and put on them whatever we had in the ambulance…We turned the heater way up.”
Allman wrote in a social media post, “Our Shelter Cove Fire Department provided hand crocheted booties and a hand crocheted beanie while Gyppo’s Brewery donated warm and dry clothing for the three to wear back to their Sonoma County hotel. The fire department provided blankets and towels to help warm them up.”
Not only were the youth were scared by the experience, but so was their family. “It was traumatic for all of them,” Antony told us.
She added, “The waves can just sneak up…Those people don’t understand how lucky they are to be alive…It was terrifying.”
She asked that we remind people how dangerous the ocean can be. “Don’t turn your back on the ocean and realize there are sneaker waves,” she warned.
And, as Deputy Allman said, “Where else in the world would a fire department have hand crocheted booties and a beanie?…What other business would provide warm clothes for the youngsters. Thanks Gyppos’s for donating the clothing! The kid’s Mom cried with happiness when Gwen told her “no charge”.”
Allman added, “The father looked at me and said “We are coming back here, we can’t believe that we are being treated so well. This place is special”.
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West facing beach are the most dangerous along our coast… never take your eyes off the water…..So glad this didn’t end like most do around here….
Tiny typo kym
tho : two.
G re at story!
Yikes! Thanks.
Alls well that ends well! Thank God!
Woman 18, boy 11.
One adult and a child swept into the ocean. Facts matter.
Youth is a term that is loosely used for ages 11 -24. Look it up. Definitions matter…
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/youth
Where did you find the 11-24 definition?
I was being a smart ass.
There is no defined age line for baby, child, youth, elder etc. Those are terms our society uses to roughly state an age category. And I thought quibbling over 18 being in the youth category (4-H defines itself as a youth organization and it takes up to someone who is 19 years old for instance) must be a joke so I threw a smartass comment back.
But, the World Health Organization https://www.who.int/southeastasia/health-topics/adolescent-health
The UN says between 15 and 24 also. https://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Transition-Age-Youth_California.pdf
Here’s foster care saying 16-21 https://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Transition-Age-Youth_California.pdf
My real answer…if you haven’t got anything to do but quibble over whether 18 or 11 is a youth, then I’ve got some more productive suggestions on ways to spend your time.
The American Psychiatric Association as well as the Institute of Medicin 18 and under are children. Review of VA Clinical Guidance for the Heath Conditions identified by the Camp Lejeune Legislation or Brain Development Cooperative Group, 2012; Sanchez et Al., 2012
Sorry, bored stiff between flights, I was being a smart ass too.
I figured and I thought being smart back was funny but now it’s after midnight and I have at least an hour of work before I can go to bed…
Now I wish ‘I’d of shut up.’
Hope you got some sleep, Kym. I had the worst flight from LA to Albuquerque. Most uncomfortable plane seats I ever had. Tried to get some sleep but the very large person in the seat next to me was uncomfortable and couldn’t sit still either and kept bumping me. Oh well, nice person and we made the best of it, but dragging ass today!
6 hours so not bad for me.
I’m very surprised to hear that there is no to find age for baby. I’m sure that there is for infant.
And all of these categories may be rough I think what we’re really asking here is how rough are they. Can an 18-year-old be considered an elder and a youth at once?
I see you aren’t the only person who includes adults under the category of youths. That’s new to me.
I think learning about the semantics of our language is a valuable use of time.
I’ll stick to the definition found in dictionaries but it’s good to understand that other people may use the word differently.
That girl looks more youth than adult. She looks like 15 or 16 than 18.
I assumed it was an old picture.
It was taken with Shelter Cove firefighters the day of the incident.
Bro one of them were my boyfriend :’)
If they are heading north, please ask them to drive right on past the beach south of Orik. Don’t even slow down.
Here’s the elephant in the room: If your pet dog gets washed out by a wave, don’t go in after it. It will survive. You and family members will, most likely, be lost.I wouldn’t post this comment unless I thought it would save lives.
I am just pleased that no one was killed. Thanks to the quick thinking adult for risking his life to get the kids to shore. Thank you Shelter Cove Fire for your fast responce to the scene. A big thank you to Gyppo’s for giving them clothes to replace their soaked outfits!!! Let this be a lesson to anyone else about thinking no caution is needed to walk on the beach. Never turn you back to the ocean and walk up aways from the waterline.
I’m so thankful to get to read a sneaker wave story with a good ending, our wonderful first responders
and the down home hospitality shown to these lucky visitors!
There is NO beach in front of the Inn of the Lost Coast, so they couldn’t have been “walking” on the “beach”, just saying. Kids had climbed down the bluff, out onto the rocks, which is a very dangerous area to be. Let’s get the story straight! What’s next? Swimming at Black Sands sounds fun! Anyone? Georgia…you in?
” walking along the beach by the cafe” is a direct quote from Cheryl Antony of Shelter Cove Fire Dept. Before you criticize Kym, learn to read carefully.
Walking on the beach?
For God’s sake people, leave our host alone. You all quibbling over words that make no difference is a form of attacking Kym. Leave her the hell alone. If you’re unhappy with a few words go away. It takes her hours to get us all the news we now crave from her. We are not her employers. We are so damned lucky to have this place we can find out what’s happening in our world. Our local world. She let’s you say almost anything you want to. More than I would. She’s a gift so treat her like one. She’s not there for you to criticize. Thanks Kym for the hours and hours of work you put in for us.
Aw! That is so sweet. Thank you!
She doesn’t have to respond. We can discuss amoungst ourselves. It’s not a form of attack that is just plain dumb. You are assuming she is overly sensitive. Don’t assume you enjoy the site more than others.
lol…..I find things wrong with every sentence, all 5 of them, that you wrote. LOL!
These are foster children from Georgia? Non of them look a like at all. Georgia has flat beaches and easy lapping waves-west coast shoreline has nasty rock outcroppings/under toe beaches and an unforgiving attitude of catching naive people at their moment of weakness. Why Shelter Cove from way south in Sonoma County/Petaluma/Bodega Bay ?????
Hello everyone, this is jassi. I am the tall kid in the green sweater. I was on of the kide that got swept in and i am 16. Im happy to answer all of the questions yall concerned, and some things that got misinterpreted by the officer, which i do not blame since we were in shock. We are all not directly related, as the 18 yeard old is my girlfriend that cane on the trip with us. We were looking upon the waters from the cliff edge that had a semmed to be frequently used path that went down to were at the time were rocks that were about 30 feet from the water. My,my girlfriend and my little brother were looking upon the ocean when Suddenly a wave took us by suprise going over our heads. Me and my little brother had clung on to the rocks barely holding on. My girlfriend was not so lucky, as the wave completely swept her in to the left of us about 100 feet. My dad had quickly grabbed my brother before another wave hit, but i was determined to find her as i looked over the water. I had then seen her in a little cove as i said before about 100 feet left of us. I quickly ran down the 30 feet of rocks, at some point making a jump of 10-12 feet onto rocks down towards her. She had clung on to some vegitation long enough for me to puul her up. Another waved towered over us, as i held her under me and grabbed the nearby rocks as hard as possible. Luckily i held on to her and the rocks and slowly we made it up a rocky slick hill. When we got up near the road we were exhausted when firefighters arrived. They were suoer generous to bandage us up and keep us warm in the fire truck. We were niave and we were taught a lesson. We qre currently all doing ok as my luttle brothers wounds and my girlfriends have almost completely healed. I still have some back problems to remind myself of the horrors of the ocean.
Thank you, Jassi for explaining what happened. I appreciate it .
I am his little brother it was very tramatic