Coast Guard search called off

Body recovered off Big Sur

By Adam Martin, Bay City News Service

March 12, 2006

The U.S. Coast Guard and Monterey County Sheriff's Department called off their search for the second of two people washed out to sea today along the Big Sur coastline.

The Coast Guard reported that it received a 911 call at about 11:15 a.m. today. The caller had apparently seen two people fishing from the rocks off the coast near the intersection of state Highway 1 and Palo Colorado Road, when a large wave carried the two out to sea.

The Coast Guard dispatched cutter Hawksbill from Monterey and a helicopter from Air Station San Francisco to search for the two victims, the agency reported. In addition, sheriff's, state parks' and fire personnel aided in the search.

Searchers found one of the two males in the water near the shore, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Department.

That victim was taken to the shore where he was pronounced dead. The other person has not yet been found.

At about 5:30 p.m., the Coast Guard suspended its search, spokeswoman Sabrina Arrayan said. Other agencies are also no longer searching but Arrayan did not know the times at which they called off their efforts.

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