‘Sneaker wave’ sucks California fisherman out to sea

A fisherman was pulled from the ocean and rushed to a hospital in critical condition after a powerful “sneaker wave” swept him off the shoreline at Baker Beach in San Francisco.

The dramatic May 29 rescue unfolded around 1 p.m. in the Presidio, where emergency crews responded to reports of a person sucked out to sea.

According to the San Francisco Fire Department, witnesses said the fisherman was standing along the shoreline when a sneaker wave suddenly surged ashore, knocking him to the ground and into the ocean, leaving him incapacitated.

Bystanders quickly called 911, helping launch a large-scale rescue effort that included San Francisco firefighters, an SFPD police boat, drone units and a helicopter.

Within minutes of being dispatched, three rescue swimmers from SFFD entered the water and reached the victim, officials said in a post on X. The crew conducted an open-water rescue and brought the fisherman safely back to shore.

Paramedic rescue swimmers and additional emergency medical personnel immediately began advanced life support measures and rushed the victim to a nearby hospital in critical condition, fire officials said.

Officials said the harrowing ordeal serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by sneaker waves, which can strike with little or no warning.

Unlike typical waves, sneaker waves can surge much farther up the beach than expected, even on days when ocean conditions appear calm. The powerful waves can easily knock people off their feet and drag them into the water before they have time to react.

Fire officials urged beachgoers to stay off wet sand and rocks, keep a constant watch on the ocean and never turn their backs to the water. Anyone who sees a person swept into the surf is asked not to enter the water, but instead to call 911 immediately and throw the victim a flotation device if one is available.

“Early calls to 911 save lives,” fire officials said.