'Sneaker waves' blamed for deaths of Calif. family
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Howard Kuljian and his family were out for a walk on a damp, overcast morning at Big Lagoon beach, playing fetch with their dog Fran as 10-foot surf churned the water just feet away like a washing machine.
Signs near the beach warned of "sneaker waves," the kind that suddenly roar ashore.
Kuljian tossed a stick that took the dog down to the water's edge, and in an instant, authorities said, a wave swallowed it, setting off a nightmarish scramble.
"Everything kind of snowballed from there," said Coast Guard Lt. Bernie Garrigan.
Kuljian's 16-year-old son, Gregory, ran to save the dog, only to be captured by the surging surf himself. Kuljian, 54, followed, and then his wife, Mary Scott, 57. On shore, their 18-year-old daughter, Olivia, and Gregory's girlfriend could only watch.
Both parents' bodies were later recovered, but the boy - presumed dead - is still missing.
The dog eventually made it back to shore.
News of Saturday's tragedy shocked many in the small college town of Arcata on the rough Northern California coastline about 280 miles north of San Francisco.
Students at Gregory's high school wore green in his memory Monday.
By late afternoon, more than 1,300 people "liked" a Facebook page set up by the teenager's friends called "Wear Green for Geddie" - using his nickname. Dozens tweeted tributes with the hashtag #WearGreenForGeddie.
"I will always remember him no matter how long," wrote Emmalaya Owen on the Facebook page. "Especially how he was such an upbeat happy person or how he tried to put up 'Be Happy' propaganda posters he drew around school."
Others were trying to come to terms with the deaths. His sister graduated last year.
"He was just a friendly guy, and everyone who knew him liked him, and his family was very close," said Day Robins, a high school senior. She said Gregory and his family were active in school athletics and sailing.
At Big Lagoon beach, a short drive from Arcata, signs posted near the parking lot warned beachgoers not to turn their back to the surf and to pay special attention to sneaker waves.
"Because the beach is designed that way, when that 10-foot wall breaks, it surges up on the beach and surges back really fast," said Garrigan, the Coast Guard officer. "It's like a cyclical washing machine."
As the family walked along the beach, Howard Kuljian threw the stick and the dog gave chase, said Dana Jones, a state parks district superintendent.
Seeing his son in the water, Kuljian leapt to action, and disappeared into the frigid water.
Gregory managed to pull himself back onto the sand, but after realizing his father was drowning, both he and his mother went in to save him.
As Olivia and the girlfriend watched in horror, a nearby bystander called police. By the time help arrived, it was too late. Jones said the officer wasn't able to get to the family members because of the high surf.
Garrigan said the search for the teenager was stopped because a person without a wetsuit could not survive for long in the cold surf.
The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter and two motorized life boats to find the teenager, but thick coastal fog made the search difficult. The parks department also called off its search.
"When there is shorebreak like that, you don't even have to go into the water to be pulled into the sea," Jones said. "It's a reminder to be real careful around the ocean."
Signs near the beach warned of "sneaker waves," the kind that suddenly roar ashore.
Kuljian tossed a stick that took the dog down to the water's edge, and in an instant, authorities said, a wave swallowed it, setting off a nightmarish scramble.
"Everything kind of snowballed from there," said Coast Guard Lt. Bernie Garrigan.
Kuljian's 16-year-old son, Gregory, ran to save the dog, only to be captured by the surging surf himself. Kuljian, 54, followed, and then his wife, Mary Scott, 57. On shore, their 18-year-old daughter, Olivia, and Gregory's girlfriend could only watch.
Both parents' bodies were later recovered, but the boy - presumed dead - is still missing.
The dog eventually made it back to shore.
News of Saturday's tragedy shocked many in the small college town of Arcata on the rough Northern California coastline about 280 miles north of San Francisco.
Students at Gregory's high school wore green in his memory Monday.
By late afternoon, more than 1,300 people "liked" a Facebook page set up by the teenager's friends called "Wear Green for Geddie" - using his nickname. Dozens tweeted tributes with the hashtag #WearGreenForGeddie.
"I will always remember him no matter how long," wrote Emmalaya Owen on the Facebook page. "Especially how he was such an upbeat happy person or how he tried to put up 'Be Happy' propaganda posters he drew around school."
Others were trying to come to terms with the deaths. His sister graduated last year.
"He was just a friendly guy, and everyone who knew him liked him, and his family was very close," said Day Robins, a high school senior. She said Gregory and his family were active in school athletics and sailing.
At Big Lagoon beach, a short drive from Arcata, signs posted near the parking lot warned beachgoers not to turn their back to the surf and to pay special attention to sneaker waves.
"Because the beach is designed that way, when that 10-foot wall breaks, it surges up on the beach and surges back really fast," said Garrigan, the Coast Guard officer. "It's like a cyclical washing machine."
As the family walked along the beach, Howard Kuljian threw the stick and the dog gave chase, said Dana Jones, a state parks district superintendent.
Seeing his son in the water, Kuljian leapt to action, and disappeared into the frigid water.
Gregory managed to pull himself back onto the sand, but after realizing his father was drowning, both he and his mother went in to save him.
As Olivia and the girlfriend watched in horror, a nearby bystander called police. By the time help arrived, it was too late. Jones said the officer wasn't able to get to the family members because of the high surf.
Garrigan said the search for the teenager was stopped because a person without a wetsuit could not survive for long in the cold surf.
The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter and two motorized life boats to find the teenager, but thick coastal fog made the search difficult. The parks department also called off its search.
"When there is shorebreak like that, you don't even have to go into the water to be pulled into the sea," Jones said. "It's a reminder to be real careful around the ocean."
@MickRoh
Â
I worked a few summers as a civilian life guard in my late teens. We were taught that going into the water was the LAST resort. If you had to get wet you would sneak up on the victim and get them in a body lock from behind. On my final test the big scraping instructor was hell bent of fighting us "rescuers". I pulled him to the edge of the pool without much trouble, or so I though. In the debriefing he said I did everything right and then some. When I got him in a side stroke rescue swim I had put my arm over his chest an clamped on his pec for a good grip. He said every time he moved in a wrong way I clamped down harder and it hurt! He flat out told the class that pain can be an effective control device to save someone.
Â
I only had to get wet once in a rescue, and it wasn't much. A very young girl got a mouth full of water and started to panic in the shallow end. I ran down to the dock and dove in (Technically a wrong move as you are never to loose sight of the victim, but I wanted fast...) Heads up crawl and I then stood up next to her, grabbed her under the arms and asked if she needed a little help. After catching her breath she said "yes".
Â
It really ticks me off to read about double drowning's where both the victim and would be rescuer both die. Two dead are not better than one.
Â
The boy should have not gone after the dog. The dad should nave not gone after the boy. The dumb boy after getting out the first time should have not gone back in knowing how bad the surf was. Mom should have had a panic attack on the beach. That way the daughter would still have one parent.
Â
Ironically the dog got out of the rip and made it back to shore. You are right @Ralph. Watching and hoping would have been the best choice.
Why is it some people think our pet dogs are totally defenseless? Dogs are good swimmers, naturally, in fact better than almost all humans! I know the love an owner has for their dog. I love mine very, very much!
Â
 When I was in boot camp for the Coast Guard we were taught that a dead hero does nobody any good. This is in reference to rescue missions only!(for those wishing to imply that I am insulting our combat heros) That is why the Guard's motto is, "Semper Paratus" or "Always Prepared". You don't run blindly into a surging wave! 6 inches of moving surf can roll a 5 ton log across the beach. Now, they mentioned a normal surf of 10 feet? I am sorry this had to happen but if you go to the beach, learn the safety rules first! They are posted at almost all public beach entrances/parks. I wish the surviving daughter and the girlfriend the best for coping with this tragedy.....
Even though I am an animal lover there are times when going after an animal is just not sensible. If it were my dog I would just have to watch and hope. I would not be going in after it.
Â
Or climbing down a cliff to rescue an animal. No way. I would get the necessary equipment and then safely repel down and rescue it the right way.
Â
I feel bad for the sister and girlfriend who will have to deal with this the rest of their lives. There are no winners here.
 @RalphCramden Yep love my dog to but when the Vet said she needed to see a heart specialist all I could see is $$$ and the sucking sound out of my wallet. Had to choose my kids college over a heart specialist for my 11.5 year old lab...
This comment has been deleted
 @FreedomRocksÂ
I agree. Sometimes it's time to put sick animals down. I have had to do that over the years and it's never easy.
Â
I expect my wife to put me down if I ever get real sick with no hope of surviving.
@FreedomRocks @RalphCramden i'm so sorry to read that about your dog. I too, came very damn close to making that call on my corgi..... We love our dogs and I do understand their panic and actions. This is a tragic story! I am very glad the dog made it out safely..... What can I say, I love dogs!