POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE (KCBS) — A search in Marin County in the waters off Point Reyes National Seashore was called off after the Coast Guard recovered the body of a man who was swept out to sea while trying to rescue his dog from the swift undercurrent.

Witnesses from a nearby location called North Beach described giant waves of 20 feet or more from the high tide at this narrow beach. One of the witnesses told the Marin County Sheriff that he helped in rescue efforts.

The man said he saw a woman walking a dog and that the dog went into the surf in a dangerous area with heavy undertows. The woman dressed in a heavy winter coat was also knocked down in the surf. That’s when the rescuer went into the water up to his knees and grabbed the woman.

The woman was completely soaked and couldn’t get up from her back. He and another man held on to the woman. Then the woman’s husband came and tried to get the dog, but he was knocked over by a wave from behind and the witness said he was carried out to sea immediately.

Two Coast Guard boats and two helicopters located the man’s body in the water after a nearly three hour search.

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