The body of a 72-year-old man was recovered off McClure’s Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore Saturday after a presumed rogue wave pulled him into the water. Rim Lee, an East Bay resident, was fishing at the beach with family when he left to explore the south end of McClure’s.
Family members saw his body and called 911 from the parking lot at 2:35 p.m. The Marin County Fire Department and National Park Service rangers responded, setting up a staging area and bringing a four-wheeler to descend the bluffs to the beach. Coast Guard helicopters were hindered by heavy fog, and three hours passed before Mr. Lee’s body was pulled from the water.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a dangerous environment, but for the right person it probably is,” Point Reyes Station Fire Captain Chris Martinelli said of McClure’s. “A lot of areas—especially that day, in particular—there [is] a big south swell. Typically south swells can have big lulls in between them and people can get too comfortable. Swells can come up after a lull and catch someone by surprise.”