[Update: Both Subjects Transported to Nearby Hospitals] Water Rescue Underway at Freshwater Lagoon
Emergency personnel including a Coast Guard helicopter were dispatched to Freshwater Lagoon around 12:30 p.m. today, October 16, for a water rescue.
According to scanner traffic, a subject was swept away near the visitor center at the state park, and a second subject entered the water in an attempt to rescue the victim. However, both subjects remained in the water and people nearby lost sight of the two individuals.
Around twenty-five minutes later, scanner traffic indicated that the Coast Guard helicopter crew had found one of the subjects and was hoisting them from the water. CPR is in progress.
Rescue crews have been unable to locate the second subject at this time but continue their search.
Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.
Update 1:03 p.m.: According to scanner traffic, the second subject has been recovered from the water. It is unknown at this time what the current medical state of that patient is.
The first patient is en route to a nearby hospital.
Update 1:50 p.m.: According to scanner traffic, the second patient is en route to a nearby hospital in stable condition.
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As I read this I heard a helicopter and looked out my window to see the Coast Guard chopper heading north having just leaving St. Joe’s.
Hopefully this was after dropping off the second subject and after treatment for hypothermia they’ll both have an interesting story to tell.
>”… CPR is in progress.”
First victim… after 25 (+-) minutes in the ocean… that is not good.
—
Overall… for a drowning victim… about 13% survive.
>”https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S073646791930424X”
— IMHO:
Freshwater Lagoon Beach = Death Zone.
Big Lagoon Beach = Death Zone.
Dry Lagoon Beach = Death Zone.
South Spit Humboldt Bay = Death Zone.
Centerville Beach = Death Zone.
Black Sand Beach (Shelter Cove) = Death Zone.
— IMHO:
Only local ocean beaches ‘moderately’ safe.
Moonstone Beach.
Crescent City Beach.
—
Hoping for the best.
Clam Beach and Mad River Beach both fall under the moderately safe category as well…unless you’re a car window
Yeah I agree our deep water coastline has undertow.. I’m curious how they got washed in near the visitor center. Where the lagoon breaks is a dangerous spot. I could easily see someone being swept in, just about happened to me.i ended up wet to the chest but able to stay on shore. Hope they recover.
I am actually picturing stone lagoon. Fresh water yeah that’s rough surf.
They’ll certainly be much more respectful of the Pacific Ocean. I’m glad they’ll both be okay.
No. Sounds like one perished. Probably all very not ok.
Sad factoid: two thirds of drownings are would-be rescuers. Such a desperate situation at the moment, it’s unlikely that will change.
It happens fast. Let US all take care of OUR respect for the ocean.
And freaking pools and rivers. Keep an eye on the kids. Drowning is QUIET.
one made it. trying to save his wife.
one did not make it. (friend of the family) they were visiting.
I’m guessing the victims were not in Freshwater Lagoon. They most likely were in the Pacific Ocean, opposite and north of the lagoon and close to the Visitor Center of State/National Park. It seems they made it out of their predicament OK thanks to the grit of the Coast Guard chopper crew and probably others. Our ocean is mighty cold and has taken many lives.
Our brave men and women from the Coast Guard do it again. I just pray that the CPR being performed on the first person will keep them alive until they reach the hospital. The second person rescued from the water, I hope and pray will make it to the hospital. Had this happened at night, even with all the night vision equipment on the chopper they may have perished before being found. I wonder if they were caught with a sneaker wave. This, I am sure was on the ocean side and not a Freshwater Lagoon.
Yeah I was picturing the visitor center at stone lagoon. This would be a hair north of freshwater.
It is the visitor’s center which is very close to the ocean side beach. The article was a little confusing at first, but after reading it several times I finally got my bearings correct.
It says the helicopter was sent to freshwater. But happened in front of the state park visitor center.wouldnt that be stone lagoon?
The National and state park visitor center is a few hundred yards north of Freshwater lagoon. I assume they mentioned Freshwater as it’s the closest well known landmark
Thank you I was drinking my first cup of coffee this morning and shouldn’t have been online.
I’m sorry, but I need to explain a bit about CPR just because there are a lot of misconceptions. CPR is only performed on the deceased. Vital signs contraindicate performing CPR. Assisting breathing may occur if there is still a pulse. Resuscitation from CPR is extremely rare, only around 4% of the time. Often brain damage has occured, and the patients life will never be the same. These cases are going to be limited to witnessed collapses, rapid performance of CPR, especially with an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), if available…and be close to a hospital. So, like at the Safeway in Fortuna, or the Ramones by the hospital in Eureka.
CPR on TV is portrayed as generally successful, which it is not. This is a grave disservice to the families of the patients, and the people who do the horrible experience that is CPR. It is a violent, exhausting, smelly, sad affair, performed in front of the patients’ loved ones while they first are aware their child,parent, spouse, friend is dead.
My son (on a dear friend’s grandfather), my mother (on a co-worker), and my father (on his best friend, a co-worker, and someone else) all performed CPR. It was not successful in any case and was emotionally very very difficult. I have so much respect for folks who keep up their CPR certificates and step up when needed.
I know what CPR is because I am certified.
Warnings about sneaker waves were everywhere the past few days
I went by there yesterday and the waves we’re very high and it was a very strong current if it was like that when they went in theyI went by there yesterday and the waves we’re very high and it was a very strong current if it was like that when they went went in then they’re lucky they were rescued.
Is there an update on this? I was there at the scene and would really like to know if the woman made it.
She did not make it I was told by a ranger who followed up with me. I was there too. One of the first responders who pulled her out of the water.
She was my mother.
I’m so sorry this happened to your mom. She looks like a sweetheart.
she is so beautiful. Without knowing her family or the outcome I prayed every day for you all. My boyfriend made the 911 call. I am so sorry. The people on that beach tried so desperately to help her, and I know she touched the lives of everyone there forever. I think of her often, and I will continue to think of your family.
I was a first responder in this incident. An older couple went to get their feet wet and got knocked over. A person on the beach attempted to pull out both and stabilize them but the woman was sucked up. He was able to stabilize the man and help him get up the beach and he was fine. The woman unfortunately drowned. We (myself and 2 others) pulled her out of the water. She was no responsive and had no pulse. CPR was attempted and she was transported by the coast guard. I was told in a follow up from one of the rangers she did not make it after being transported by helicopter by the coast guard.
This occurred just off the parking and picnic area adjacent to the Kuchel visitor center in the ocean, not at the lagoon. There were 6-8ft waves that day according to Surfline. The coast looked extremely dangerous and I say that as a surfer who spends a lot of time in the ocean.
Per one comment here, a lot of drownings are rescuers. I had put my kayaking life jacket on and had others in the beach put me on live bait with 4 dog leashes tied together but even so I was hesitant going after the victim who looked like she was gone anyway. That beach is steep and the waves crash right into a deep drop off. I agree very dangerous.
I only found this article today, I was hoping something would be published on the incident. If you have more questions feel free to contact me.
Justin, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your response and your efforts to save my mother in such challenging circumstances. Her name was Nancy Paradise, and she was truly an extraordinary woman. She and my dad, Steve, were on a cross-country trip when this tragic event happened. My mom was a devoted wife and a loving mother to me and my sister, Julie. She cherished her role as a grandmother to my son, Levi, and leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and her beloved dog, Ozzie. She was laid to rest yesterday.
Thank you from the bottom of my family’s heart
I am very sorry for your experience and for the loss of Nancy Paradise. My cousin says she was one of the people that helped pull her out of the water that day. She has had trouble processing the event and feels guilty she was not able to do more. I thought it may help her to hear from the people that were there. Is there a way to get in touch with you? Please let me know, thank you.