Mom and Young Daughter Critically Injured After Wave Pulls Them 100 Feet into Ocean

A mother and her preteen daughter are in critical condition after a sneaker wave suddenly knocked them into the ocean at a San Francisco beach.

The terrifying incident happened on Thursday, June 18, at Baker Beach, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.

Fire officials said crews responded after reports that “a mother and preteen child” had been “knocked into the ocean by a sneaker wave.”

Fire Capt. Jonathan Baxter told the San Francisco Chronicle that the pair had been standing near the rocks at the northeast corner of the beach when a wave “came out of nowhere and grabbed them.”

The mother and child were pulled about 100 feet into the ocean, according to the outlet.

The fire department responded around 3:15 p.m. local time and launched a full surf rescue deployment. By the time firefighters arrived, the mother and daughter had already been pulled from the water and were found on the shoreline.

Both were in critical condition.

“SFFD rescue personnel and paramedics immediately provided life-saving measures on scene,” the department said. “Both patients were transported to local hospitals in serious condition.”

Witness Maria Flores told KGO that she saw emergency crews working on one of the victims.

“There were a lot of people surrounding her and they got her on a stretcher and had a CPR thing on her face, and I heard them say she caught her breath,” Flores said.

Hours before the frightening incident, the National Weather Service had issued a beach hazards warning because of an increased risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents, according to KGO.

Baxter warned that Baker Beach can be especially dangerous, even when it looks calm.

“Baker Beach is deceptive,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle. “It does have its inherent hazards.”

He said the incident happened near the rocky northeastern part of the beach and urged visitors to stay away from rocks near the water.

“Again, part of our safety message is never go on rocks whether there’s a beach hazard statement or not,” Baxter said.

The San Francisco Fire Department called the incident “a stark reminder of the dangers of sneaker waves along San Francisco’s coastline and throughout California.”

Officials warned that sneaker waves can rush much farther up the beach than expected and can happen without warning.

Fire officials also reminded beachgoers to “never turn your back to the ocean.”

“Stay alert, keep children and pets close, and avoid wet sand and driftwood near the waterline,” the department said. “If you see someone in trouble, call 911 immediately and do not enter the water yourself.”