Arizona swimmer Trevor Valentine, 38, dies after being found unresponsive at Sand Dollar Beach
Valentine, of Casa Grande, Arizona, was reported missing just after 1 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the Big Sur beach and was located unresponsive near its rocky south end. A Coast Guard helicopter hoisted him to waiting medics, and he was pronounced dead, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office said.
A 38-year-old Arizona man died at Sand Dollar Beach on the Big Sur coast on Tuesday, Oct. 13, after a multi-agency search found him unresponsive near the rocky south end of the beach, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff-Coroner identified him as Trevor Valentine of Casa Grande, Arizona.
Deputies responded just after 1 p.m. to the beach, in the 69000 block of Highway 1 along the south Monterey County coastline, for a report of a missing adult scuba diver, the Sheriff's Office said. Once responders arrived, they learned the missing man was a swimmer, not a diver. Big Sur Fire, Cambria Ambulance, California State Parks lifeguards, the U.S. Forest Service and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter joined the response.
A lifeguard went into the water near where Valentine was last seen while other personnel searched the nearby shoreline, according to the Sheriff's Office. KSBW reported that crews searched for about 20 minutes before locating him on the rocks. He was unresponsive, lifesaving measures were administered, and a Coast Guard helicopter hoisted him from the coastline to awaiting ambulance personnel. Despite those efforts, he was pronounced deceased, the Sheriff's Office said.
The Sheriff's Office said no further information was available, and the circumstances of the death remain under investigation, according to KSBW reporting. The Arizona Republic reported that Valentine's family had gathered in Big Sur for a reunion this week, and that a fundraiser was created to support his wife, Casondra Valentine, and help the family with funeral expenses.
Big Sur Fire Chief Matt Harris urged caution along the coast in comments to KSBW. "The ocean is unforgiving, you know," Harris said, pointing to large tidal movements, a strong northwest swell and very slippery rocks, and urging people to know their limitations before going in the water.
We correct errors promptly and note them here. Send corrections through the contact form, choosing the Correction topic.
