Here's the fuller news story on the accident.

[mictamali]

http://www.modbee.com/1623/story/242096.html

 

Man's daughter, 23, on life support; Girl, 13, was rescued

By BEE STAFF REPORTS

last updated: March 17, 2008 04:01:36 PM

A 47-year-old Modesto man has died and his 23-year-old daughter is hospitalized in intensive care today after trying to save a girl who was swept off a Carmel beach.

They were part of a Ceres Seventh Day Adventist church group on a field trip to Carmel River State Beach, church and state parks officials said. The beach, also known as Monastery Beach, is known for scenic views but also for its rugged surf.

Detective Ruben Garcia with the coroner’s division of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department late this morning identified the man who died as Mark Darrough.

His daughter Jessica was on life support in a medically induced coma at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey, said Pastor Keith Mulligan, who was there with the family.

He said doctors planned to try to bring her out of the coma this evening. “So hopefully the mind and heart will begin working again but we have no idea what the prognosis is,” Mulligan said. “It is in the Lord’s hands, and there are a lot of people praying. It all happened within a couple of minutes.”

The Pathfinder Club, a young group or scouts program for children ages 10-14, had visited the tide pools at Point Lobos State Reserve with their families and had stopped at Monastery Beach because the children had wanted to visit a beach with sand, said Bert Van Tassell, who was on the trip with his granddaughter.

He said the group had just arrived at the beach and was rethinking whether it was safe to be there when a 13-year-old member of the group was somehow swept out. Accounts differ on whether she was sitting on the beach and was hit by a wave, or whether she was chasing after her dog, which was struggling in the waves.

Five people went in after her. A Seaside man carried the girl to safety, and two other members of the group struggled back to shore. They were treated and released from the hospital.

Mr. Darrough and his daughter remained at sea until lifeguards arrived, Jones said. The daughter was closer to shore and was pulled out first. The father was in the water at least 37 minutes.

[ktykat77]

Mar. 18, 2008 at 12:19 AM

What a horrible accident. No one knows this but my family but I was swept out to sea when I was about 11-12. I know how that young girl feels. My prayers are with the familes. It is a scary situation.

Keep us updated. 

[reneems8]

Mar. 19, 2008 at 1:25 PM That is an unfortunate accident and very scary.  My prayers are with the families.