Woman in her 70s swept away by large wave along California coast

A woman was swept away by a large wave at a North Coast beach on Monday afternoon during a fierce winter storm, officials said.It happened at a beach at MacKerricher State Park about 3 miles north of Fort Bragg, where the woman in her 70s was knocked off a rock, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Bystanders rescued the woman and brought her to the shore. After the rescue, she became unconscious, the sheriff’s office said.Though life-saving measures were performed on the woman, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff’s office said they don’t believe any suspicious circumstances are tied to the woman’s death.Investigators have checked vehicles left in the parking lot of the beach and missing persons reports in the area, but are still looking to identify the woman. A forensic pathologist is expected to perform another examination this week, the sheriff’s office said.Anyone with information about the woman’s death is urged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at 707-463-4086.The woman’s death came as Mendocino Coast and the surrounding areas are experiencing heavy rain and strong winds. Multiple flood watches have been issued in the region over the past several days, with the risk of rapid rise of rivers, streams and creeks.

FORT BRAGG, Calif. —

A woman was swept away by a large wave at a North Coast beach on Monday afternoon during a fierce winter storm, officials said.

It happened at a beach at MacKerricher State Park about 3 miles north of Fort Bragg, where the woman in her 70s was knocked off a rock, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Bystanders rescued the woman and brought her to the shore. After the rescue, she became unconscious, the sheriff’s office said.

Though life-saving measures were performed on the woman, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff’s office said they don’t believe any suspicious circumstances are tied to the woman’s death.

Investigators have checked vehicles left in the parking lot of the beach and missing persons reports in the area, but are still looking to identify the woman. A forensic pathologist is expected to perform another examination this week, the sheriff’s office said.

Anyone with information about the woman’s death is urged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at 707-463-4086.

The woman’s death came as Mendocino Coast and the surrounding areas are experiencing heavy rain and strong winds. Multiple flood watches have been issued in the region over the past several days, with the risk of rapid rise of rivers, streams and creeks.