SANTA CRUZ COUNTY – High surf played a role in a death Monday at a beach in Santa Cruz County.
Authorities were called to Sunset State Beach around 11:30 a.m. for a report of a person trapped under debris or a log “due to the high surf,” according to California State Parks spokesperson Marty Greenstein.
Greenstein said rescuers and bystanders freed the person and gave him CPR. He was then taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The person was identified only as a male resident of Santa Cruz County.
California State Parks on Friday warned beachgoers a series of large westerly swells would hit the Central Coast over the weekend and into the first part of the week.
On Monday, waves were expected to reach 15 to 20 feet, according to an advisory.
The incident at Sunset State Beach was followed by the partial collapse of the Santa Cruz Wharf. Three workers who were inspecting the structure at the time had to be rescued.
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