College wrestler missing after friends say he jumped into California ocean for ‘polar plunge’

A San Francisco State College wrestler is lacking after leaping into Esplanade Seaside for a “polar plunge,” buddies and authorities mentioned.

Hamzah Alsaudi, 22, of Santa Monica, went for a swim Thursday morning with two different males when a wave hit him and pulled him away from the shore, the Pacifica Police Division mentioned in a information launch.

The 2 different males have been capable of get out of the water and known as 911 for assist. Pacifica law enforcement officials and firefighters searched the realm and surrounding seashores however couldn’t discover Alsaudi.

The U.S. Coast Guard, California Freeway Patrol’s air unit, the San Bruno Police Division, and California State Parks Ocean Life Guards have been additionally known as in to help. Alsaudi has not been positioned.

Buddies informed KTVU that Alsaudi and his wrestling teammates have been doing a polar plunge, when folks soar into chilly water through the winter months. They informed the information station that he was not a powerful swimmer.

The college despatched a letter to the group Friday relating to the seek for Alsaudi. The police division didn’t have any updates on the search when reached Saturday.

Alsaudi is a political science main on the college with a minor in Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Research.

“Our ideas and prayers are with your entire Gator group proper now as we course of this information,” the varsity mentioned. “We stay deeply grateful to the Coast Guard, Police Division, and others for all they’ve performed to assist with the search.”