Swept Away by a Sneaker Wave at Soberanes Point
So, here’s what’s unfolding right now along the California coast, and it’s a story that’s both tragic and deeply sobering. A U.S. Army specialist, identified as 35-year-old Amanpreet Thind, was swept into the ocean by a powerful wave at Soberanes Point in Garrapata State Park. He was a student at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, originally from New Jersey, and had been visiting the area with two women when the incident happened. The women managed to get out of the water, but he never made it back to shore.
According to officials, the three were standing on the rocks Saturday afternoon when a large wave surged in suddenly—a type of wave known as a sneaker wave. These waves are unpredictable, often taller and stronger than anything that comes before them, and they can rush up the shoreline or even onto rocks with incredible force. Coast Guard officials emphasized just how dangerous they are, noting that they don’t just hit the beach but can sweep across the rocky areas where people think they’re safely perched.
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Search crews from multiple agencies immediately launched a response. A Coast Guard helicopter even spotted what looked like a body in the water around 4:24 p.m., but due to the rough surf, the crew lost sight of it and couldn’t recover anything. As conditions worsened, the mission was shifted from rescue to search-and-recovery.
By Monday morning, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office had resumed efforts, but their dive team reported that the ocean conditions were still too hazardous to enter. Heavy surf, strong winds, and swirling underwater currents made it unsafe for divers, though there’s hope conditions may improve enough for underwater searches soon. The area was already under a beach hazards warning, and officials stressed that sneaker waves remain a serious risk.
The Defense Language Institute released a statement expressing hope that Spc. Thind will be found while also offering condolences and support to his family. Those who encountered the recovery efforts—tourists and locals alike—were visibly shaken. Many commented that the coastline is beautiful but unforgiving, and that staying on marked trails and keeping distance from the water’s edge is crucial.
What makes this even more heartbreaking is that it happened at the same park where a father and his 7-year-old daughter were swept away and died just a week earlier. Authorities are urging the public to stay away from the Soberanes Point area while search teams continue working, and they’re reminding everyone that ocean waves, especially along this stretch of coast, can be dangerously unpredictable.
It’s a stark reminder that nature doesn’t always give warnings—and one step too close can change everything.
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