On Tuesday afternoon, October 21st, multiple agencies including Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies, the United States Coast Guard, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, were dispatched to the North Jetty in Fairhaven, just south of Eureka, California, after the Humboldt County Emergency Communications Center received a call from a citizen reporting his father had fallen into the water at the North Jetty.
Once on scene deputies located The victim, a 74 year old male, was quickly located by deputies and found to be breathing, but non-responsive and suffering from major head and facial injuries.
It was determined, based on statements by the son, his father was standing on the jetty when he was struck by a ‘sneaker wave’, and swept into the water. The son stated he pulled his father out of the water and back onto the Jetty.
Medical aid was immediately rendered by personnel on scene, and due the nature and severity of wave conditions, a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from U.S Coast Guard Air Station Sector Humboldt Bay was requested to assist.
Once the Coast Guard arrived, the victim was loaded into the rescue basket, hoisted into the helicopter and transported to a local hospital to undergo medical treatment for his injuries.
