A 30-year-old East Bay man drowned off the shores of North Beach on Sunday afternoon after a friend attempted to rescue him from the rough surf. Adi Handach was reported floating 100 yards from shore at 2:41 p.m., and currents were sweeping him further. By the time paramedics arrived, he had been brought to shore. Responders worked to revive him until a California Highway Patrol helicopter transported him to a Sonoma County hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The waters off Point Reyes on March 1 were roughly 57 degrees. At that temperature, a person loses muscle function within 10 to 40 minutes, depending on their body size, clothing and whether they are wearing a life jacket, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Mr. Handach was wearing only his underwear. The National Park Service cautions people not to swim or surf at North Beach, where the rip currents and undertow are strong and sneaker waves are not uncommon. There were drownings at the beach in 2013 and 2014. At nearby South Beach, a fisherman drowned in 2023 after being swept to sea, and on Thanksgiving Day in 2024, a 4-year-old girl drowned after being caught by a wave at McClures Beach.