Father drowns at Blind Beach in Sonoma County while trying to save his 2 children swept out to sea, California authorities say
The following written content by Jessica Flores
A man drowned on Sunday at a California beach while attempting to save his two young children, who are missing and presumed dead, authorities said.
Crews on Monday were still searching for the 4-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl after their father, Michael Wyman, drowned while trying to save them at Blind Beach in Sonoma County.
The mother told officials that she and her family were near the water’s edge or partway in the water when a wave knocked them over, Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman told the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa.
“The kids got swept in, so dad went in to get them and managed to grab his son but he, they were swept out and mom was knocked to her knees, but she was able to get out,” Baxman told KTVU-TV.
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Michael Raasch told ABC7 News that a friend and the wife of Wyman, 40, dragged his body out of the water.
“When the cavalry got here, we were searching for the kids, we found a pair of shoes that washed up, and a jacket, but no sign of kids. We looked for hours,” Raasch said.
Supervising Sonoma Coast Ranger Damien Jones said the water “was so churned up and just a foamy white mess, basically, so once people went in the water, it was very difficult to see where people were or what was happening.”
Authorities advised people to stay away from the beach due to dangerous surf conditions. Read more from USA Today.
