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Man drowns in Bodega surf

Despite friends' frantic attempts to save him, Geyserville man pulled under surface


By TRACIE MORALES
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 3:45 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 5:09 p.m.

Five friends on an excursion to Bodega Head were playfully running close to the water's edge Saturday afternoon as nervous onlookers became increasingly worried.


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Suddenly, one of them was hit by a wave on a slippery outcropping of rock and pulled into the water in a hard-to-reach section of the beach, said Jeremy Stinson, a State Parks supervising ranger.

The 39-year-old Geyserville resident drowned, and two men with him barely made it back to safety as they desperately tried to save him.

"The ocean didn't look that turbulent. They would run onto the beach when the waves receded," said Stephen Ashton, a Glen Ellen resident who was watching from the parking lot near West Bodega Head. "They were getting real close."

Moments later, a wave knocked one of the men into the water.

One at a time, the two other men jumped into the water trying to save their friend.

"He was literally inches from being able to be pulled out of the rocky surf," Ashton said. "His friends were there trying to help him, and they didn't realize it was so serious. He would swim up close to the rocks and not get a grip."

At 5:43 p.m., an onlooker called 911 while other witnesses near the scene waved their T-shirts and other items trying to flag down a nearby fishing boat.

Another person threw a rope and others jumped up and down trying to seek help, as the drowning victim drifted into the cove.

"We could see him kind of bobbing in the surf," Ashton said.

Bystanders rescued his two friends, one of whom held out his sweat pants and was dragged out of the water.

"When first responders arrived, the victim was being pulled out by a citizen boater," Stinson said. Attempts at CPR were unsuccessful.

The man was transferred to a Coast Guard boat and taken to the Coast Guard station, where he was pronounced dead, Stinson said.

The man's identity was not released pending notification of his family, Stinson said.

Ashton and his wife, Justine, had come to watch the ocean and take pictures on a beautiful sunny Saturday when the tragedy unfolded.

All five of the friends who came to the beach spoke Spanish.

A yellow sign in English that warned visitors to be careful stood a short distance away. It read: "Danger. Surf Unsafe. No Lifeguard."

You can reach Staff Writer Tracie Morales at 521-5274

or tracie.morales@

pressdemocrat.com.


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  1. logical1 says...
    September 7, 2008 5:50:27 am

    RE: Link

    This is certainly tragic. But, is the comment at the end of the article ("A yellow sign in English that warned visitors to be careful stood a short distance away. It read: "Danger. Surf Unsafe. No Lifeguard.")meant to say that we should post everything in Spanish, German, Swahili, French, etc. etc. etc. How about everyone exercising some common sense and accountability instead?

  2. Rayrmichael says...
    September 7, 2008 6:11:28 am

    I have a better idea. If your going to live in America and call yourself an American,why don't you learn to read and speak American?

  3. 707voicedotnet says...
    September 7, 2008 7:13:23 am

    LOL @ Traci MORALES' attempt at a subtle jab at the end. Yes Traci, it was in ENGLISH. Want to guess why it was in ENGLISH?

    For what it's worth Traci MORALES, there are signs at the border IN SPANISH that forbid illegal immigration but those are ignored as well.

    Unbelievable.

    It's always someone elses fault isn't it.
    I suppose we should have along the highway IN SPANISH that warn against gang banging. Maybe that'll deter some of these individuals from straying into that lifestyle. Because evidently, as Rayrmichael mistakenly believes, this isn't a matter of common sense. It's a matter of the an English speaking nation only having signs in english.

    Our bad -- Again.

  4. 707voicedotnet says...
    September 7, 2008 7:16:04 am

    Traci - you totally ruined that article with your insinuation.

    What I meant to post was that this is a tragic event. I was at the beach with my dog on Thursday and it was a beautiful day. Cloudless sky, warm weather - etc. But the ocean was still rough. It was relentless and my medium sized dog wouldn't go near it. The waves are just too aggressive and recede way to powerfully.

    Thoughts and prayers to the family of this guy. This is a horrific way to die.

  5. bobsphotography2000 says...
    September 7, 2008 7:56:32 am

    Seems the media, and the Press Demo, would ask the men where they were from or if they were 'locals.' Of course, we all know where they're "from." And they aren't even supposed to be here, are they?

  6. wrenis_pinckle says...
    September 7, 2008 8:25:31 am

    A yellow sign in English that warned visitors to be careful stood a short distance away. It read: "Danger. Surf Unsafe. No Lifeguard."

    Just one more reason "they" should learn ENGLISH!

    I always wondered how they got the name
    WET BACK...now I know.

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