Coast Guard Suspends Search For Gregory Kuljian – November 26, 2012

Coast Guard crews searched this area on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, for a 16-year-old male who was swept out to sea from the beach of Big Lagoon State Park in Humboldt County. Crews searched this area for hours by land, sea and air before the search was suspended on Saturday night. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

U.S. Coast Guard Press Release

MCKINLEYVILLE — The Coast Guard suspended its search for the 16-year-old who was swept out to sea from a beach near Big Lagoon State Park on Saturday.

At 12:40 p.m. on Saturday, the Coast Guard received notification from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s department that three people had been swept into the ocean.  Group Air Station Humboldt Bay dispatched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescue crew and two 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crews from Station Humboldt Bay to search the area.

The Coast Guard search patterns for a 16-year-old male who was swept out to sea from a beach near Big Lagoon State Park in Humboldt County, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012. Crews searched more than 6 square miles around the Big Lagoon area looking for the person in the water. U.S. Coast Guard image.

Upon arriving on scene, the Coast Guard was advised by the sheriff’s department that two bodies had been recovered, and that a 16-year-old male was still missing.

Crews searched the six-square mile area around the state park by air and sea until suspending at 6:45 p.m. due to heavy fog and darkness.

“This unfortunate and tragic event is a reminder of the ruthlessness and unrelenting power of the ocean here along the northern California coast,” said Lt. Bernie Garrigan, the Group Humboldt Bay public affairs officer. “With the holiday season upon us and more people out for walks along the beach, it is critically important to maintain situational awareness and stay away from the surf which can quickly build and catch people off guard.”