[UPDATE 4 p.m.: Photos] Multiple Children and Adults Trapped by Rising Tide Near Rockport
At 12:04 p.m., Emergency dispatch requested rescue personnel from Mendocino Coast fire agencies respond to Howard Creek Beach near Rockport to conduct a water rescue.
Initial reports indicate that a person was trapped along the beach due to high tide which reached it’s apex just before 2 p.m.
Eventually, emergency responders learned that there were approximately 11 people including at least seven children stuck on the beach their path impeded by a large rock and the rising tide. A report from a rescuer on scene indicated the location of the incident is Vista Point approximately one mile north of the Abalone Point Campground. He described 10-12 people with no apparent injuries stuck in a “cave/cove” unable to extricate themselves due to the rising tides.
A five-meter rescue boat was deployed out of the Noyo Harbor and making its way to the scene. And, at one point, rescuers at the scene requested the Coast Guard station in Humboldt Bay be contacted so they could deploy a helicopter with a basket.
About quarter til one p.m., CalStar Air Ambulance reported they have the ability to take three people at a time if an appropriate landing zone could be established.
By 1:30 p.m., a helicopter was at scene equipping to conduct short hauls of the the parties on the beach. The Coast Guard helicopter had been canceled but the rescue boat planned to continue to the scene.
A number of agencies were requested including Fort Bragg Fire, Westport Fire, CAL FIRE, and a CalStar air ambulance.
UPDATE 2:49 p.m.: Reports from the scene indicate all eleven parties have been successfully extricated from the beach.
UPDATE 4 p.m.: The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department posted the following images captured at the rescue site:
A small child clutches a rescuer as a helicopter pulls the two to safety.
![Rescue images from Howard Beach. [Photo from MCSO]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/291171742_406968208137344_5775956296345287602_n.jpg)
Two helicopters, an ambulance, and a MCSO vehicle at the scene of the incident.
![Rescue images from Howard Beach. [Photo from MCSO]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/291225877_406968044804027_2265369239260334694_n.jpg)
A group of adults and children were trapped by rising tide at Howard Beach on the Mendocino County coast today.
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Great ending. And a shout out to the responders. Good job!
I will second your comment grey fox. Everyone there did a fantastic job!!
Darwin, interrupted.
Yes, there are tides in the ocean. And when the tide is rising that means the water will come up higher. This is the real ocean and not a simulated computer game or a man-made amusement park…so your path may get waves coming up on it. That means your path back out also. This might be hard to hear but…you need to be aware and take care of yourself…
What kind of adults are we raising these days?!
Very glad they made it out. I’m always amazed at the folks who schedule outdoor activities and never check the weather forecast or go on beach hikes with no $2.00 tide book. Remember the folks shooting an auto commercial on the beach which was inundated by the tide?
Looking at the last photo it seems that if they were to just climb up the bank 10 feet they would only have to wait 6 hours to walk back to the car.
Yep. Low tide stuck me in the mud flats off Arcata Marsh in my canoe for 7 hours: 3 1/2 from when we couldn’t float anymore to low tide, 3 1/2 back to floating, and we were on our way. There was no WAY I was going to bring attention to us being stuck out there. I like reading the news, not being in it. I have never even come close to doing that again. Wait, except for that one time when I was trying to follow a bunch of sea kayaks across the Humboldt south bay in my 17ft Coleman canoe. That one time and one close call, never again.
Glad everyone is safe.
My thought exactly. What a waste of resources and also an opportunity to learn a lesson
There were allegedly seven children involved. Don’t know about the health or age of the rest, but 6 hours on the cold rocks with apparently no food or water and NO toilet facilities put 11 people in a precarious position through sheer stupidity.
evidently, you are a young adult, healthy and strong. Good for you!
What. They can’t squat?
Poop in the ocean, like a fish
One would assume if that were true, a helicopter and boat transport would have been unnecessary.
Four. It was less than two hours ’til high tide when they called.
Big time!!
I know a picture doesn’t always accurately capture 3D, but…..the Vegetation starts right above them in what looks to be a bunny slope walk….
Ouch the bill!!
Airships ships dispatched from a private company are going to cut to the bone….
Overall though….great job everyone!
There is a visible trail.
I hope they have to pay for their rescue!
Maybe even give the (adults) some time to think and learn.
Our first responders are to precious assets Not to be squandered by thoughtless people
7 children are not precious assets?
Think i’ll run out into traffic, then call for help because there are cars coming at me. Then i’ll go out for a hike at dusk, and call because it’s getting dark and it’s scary! Or maybe… hike down to a place with (i guess) steep cliffs and a narrow beach, just before high tide, and call because my “path is impeded by a large rock.”
The Idiocracy is upon us.
Dear Tourists: The tide goes out. The tide comes back in. The tide goes out. The tide comes back in. If you plan on visiting our beaches, please be prepared to get yourself out of the situations you put yourself in. The ocean is cold and unforgiving. You must respect her boundries and apprise yourself of her schedule in advance so as not to put yourself or those who will potentially need to rescue you in danger. Thank you!
And it’s just the start of 4th of July weekend!
Classis example of how well the “dumbing down” process is hard at work.