A 38-year-old man enjoying his family reunion on the California coastline has died after being found unresponsive on the beach.
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Trevor Valentine of Casa Grande, Arizona, went missing on Oct. 13 during a family reunion at Sand Dollar Beach, California. A multi-agency search and rescue followed, with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office (MCSO)
explaining that the search began where the 38-year-old was last seen swimming, adding that "additional personnel searched the nearby shoreline.""The missing adult male was located near the rocky coastline on the south end of Sand Dollar Beach. The male was unresponsive, and life-saving measures were administered," the MCSO further detailed.
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rushed Valentine to an awaiting ambulance, which then transported him to a hospital. Despite these efforts, he was later pronounced dead.
"The Monterey County Sheriff's Office extends its condolences to the Valentine family and all those affected by the loss," the department added.
Sister Pays Tribute to Her Brother Following Tragedy
Valentine's sister, Amy Rowan, paid tribute to her brother on social media.
"It's unfortunate to share that my brother TJ passed away on Tuesday," she wrote in the Oct. 15 public Facebook post. "My family had a reunion this week in Big Sur, and that's where it all happened."
"My family requests privacy and prayers at this time as we process the loss of a husband, son, brother, uncle, and family member," she added, alongside an image of her smiling brother. "It's really hard and will be for a while."
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe was established to help Valentine's widow cover his funeral and other related expenses. As of this writing, the campaign has raised over $10,000.
In the wake of Valentine's death, Big Sur Fire Chief Matt Harris warned beachgoers to be cautious before wading into the sea.
"The ocean is unforgiving, you know. And right now, especially with the large tidal movements," Chief Harris explained, per KSBW. "And right now we have a pretty good-sized northwest swell. The rocks are very slippery."
"The swell is very powerful. And just to be careful and know, you know, your limitations," he added.
The incident is still reportedly under investigation.
