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Rogue wave drowns 3 people
2 others survive Mugu Rock waters
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More from County NewsThree young Oxnard men died Thursday after being swept off a rocky ledge and into the ocean near Point Mugu.
Shortly before 2 p.m., a wave knocked five people into the water beneath Mugu Rock, according to witnesses. The two survivors, a 17-year-old and a 27-year-old, made it to the shore and started calling for help, said Ventura County Sheriff's Sgt. Steve Sagely.
A 21-, 19- and 17-year-old were later pulled out of the water. All three were pronounced dead at the scene, Sagely said.
A woman at the popular ocean lookout responded to the calls for help before rescue crews arrived, jumping into the water and pulling one of the three victims onto shore, according to witnesses.
Sagely identified her as 24-year-old Kathryn Barrona of Camarillo. He called her actions heroic. She could not be reached for comment.
The two other men were pulled from the water by emergency responders, including rescue swimmers and a helicopter crew, by 2:30 p.m.
The victims' names were not released, pending notification of family members. It was unclear if they all were related.
Ana Savedra of Canyon Country was reading in her car parked on the turnout at Mugu Rock and watched as the five headed down the rocky hill closer to the water.
"They seemed like they were having fun," she said. Later, however, Savedra saw people running around, calling for help. Rescue crews and a helicopter came quickly, she said.
Previous drownings have been reported in the same area, including a 16-year-old boy who was swept into the water while fishing off a cliff below Mugu Rock in January.
For the past two years, Savedra has been going to the same spot to relax.
"It's a beautiful place," she said, but she's never gone down the hill where the tide crashes up against the rocky shoreline. "It's very dangerous."
Posted by lrgvanman on November 28, 2008 at 6:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Signs are there saying no trespassing. Sorry for the tragedy.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on November 28, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My Condolences to the families of these three men.
Posted by kenternst on November 28, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know it is posted no trespassing and I hear it is in both English and Spanish. I wonder if it would be worth the cost to post another sign with the names of all who have died and the dates they died on a sign close to where these self imposed victims put themselves in danger. It would serve as a sort of memorial to families that lost loved ones and provide a graphic reminder that you could be next if you are dumb enough to ignore the warnings.
Posted by Legs on November 28, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Kathryn, for your heroic efforts.
Posted by Jacksprat on November 28, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When will people ever learn the ocean looks nice but it is not alway nice it is dangerous. We read all the time some one getting washed into the ocean ayt Mugu rock, they don't read the signs, because it looks so nice. I remember one was a boy fishing there, even though the sign says no.
How much of a fence will be need to protect people from their own dumb actions. It cost money to rescue these people all the time.
Do you have to close off all the good things around because some people don't use their brains and get them self killed.
Posted by RedTail on November 28, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's a great idea kenternst.
My condolences to the victim's families.
And a thank you to Kathryn for trying to save a victim.
Posted by AVDirtFarm on November 28, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for your effort Kathryn, such a sad story – Thanks to all that are good and care when someone is in distress .
Posted by lakerboy805 on November 28, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was knocked off those rocks when I was a kid, never been back since....
Posted by MikeHunt69 on November 28, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw the limp young boy being lifted out of the water with a helicopter while I was at the beach. I offer my condolences. Thanks Ms Barrona.
Posted by rdo4JC on November 28, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a sad story indeed. The power of the ocean can never be underestimated. Thank goodness that there were survivors, and the heroic actions by Kathryn did not result in her also getting killed. One question for the Star - on one of the LA stations on last night's news, they mentioned the names of all the adults that were killed or survived. They withheld the names of the minors. How can the LA stations get the names and the local paper not get the info?
Posted by vcsexplorer11 on November 28, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Every time I hear about things like this I think about the winners on the Darwin Awards website.
Posted by sparks240 on November 28, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
During the TV coverage of this event, the camera caught 3 more guys climbing down to the rocks. They left when the TV reporter warned them off. Some people never learn.
Posted by nojustice_justus on November 28, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can only do so much as far as warning the public...I for one am aware that the PCH at one time went around Mugu Rock on the ocean side. That being said if the waves did what it did to the roadway....look what it is doing now.
Tragic. Especially at this time of year.
Posted by NightLight on November 28, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How people can smirk about tragedies like people losing their lives by mentioning the Darwin Awards website is beyond me.
Posted by nojustice_justus on November 28, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hopefully their name isn't supposed to mean Ventura County Sheriff Explorer 11. I wouldn't trust their judgement if they ever became a VCS.
Posted by opi on November 28, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thank god Young people don't obey signs, what would life be like if we all lived in a gated community with pristine lawns and everyone was greeted with a hearty "good morning neighbor" and and never a mistake was made?
I am sure they were wonderful young people enjoying life and making life's mistakes. Very sad for their families, not everyone makes it to old age, the ones that don' will always be remembered as they were, young and strong.
As for some of the miserable post here, maybe you people should move to the U.K. where you are under video surveillance 24 hours a day and never permitted to make a mistake.
To vcsexplorer11, you are not even a cop yet and you have the us against the public attitude going strong, so sad. I am going to do everything I can to find out who you are and that your comment is considered when you apply for sheriff's deputy.
Posted by vcsexplorer11 on November 28, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all, I am not running for Sheriff.
Second, Unless you were living under a rock all your life you would know that people get washed away by water all the time (be it a flash flood, tsumani, or waves.)
So, not following posted signs and risking your life (because you think it doesn't apply to you) is a candidate for Darwin Awards.
I never said I didn't feel sorry for them.
Heck, I feel sorry for a guy running across a 6 lane highway in heavy traffic but it doesn't make what he did respectable.
PS.
Ventura County Star, not Sheriff
Posted by Read_This_One on November 28, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To the Star,
How is a wave "rogue?"
Don't understand the use of the word in this context.
Posted by IGMer on November 28, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kenternst- We live in America were people need to learn ENGLISH
vcsexplorer11- ventura county star explorer? WOW! get into a real program and become a real explorer.
opi- I thought you would be a little smarter since i your lastname is "kenobi"...or are you forgetting things now since you are really really old...but UK has cameras watching them 24 hours? change the K into a S and out a A at the end of it....USA is watching us....he is currently watching you read this...big brother style..
"survival of the fittest"......
here is a good movie to watch "IDIOCRACY". Sadly is coming a reality.
Posted by nojustice_justus on November 28, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by IGMer:
'kenternst- We live in America were people need to learn ENGLISH'
...but not proper grammar. LMAO.
Posted by NowHearThis on November 28, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad about this tragedy that should have never happened. Every so often, I hear of people being swept to sea, while they are on those unsafe rocks. Why chance it? At any rate, my condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.
Posted by stana2z on November 28, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My fiancé passed away this time last year at the beach off of 5th street. Similar circumstances. Now, she was wading in the surf, calf high, when a rouge wave swamped her and carried her out. The rouge waves and rip current, coupled with the low water temperature spells danger. A "rouge wave" is one that does not match the magnitude or periodicity of the current surf conditions. Thus, it catches people off guard if they grow complacent. Many beachcombers I know say keep one eye on the sand and one on the sea. It is truly sad for the family. I feel their pain. Take note. The sea has no mercy. VTA waters are dangerous at times. Again, sorry for your loss.
Posted by IGMer on November 29, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nojustice...I told you we are getting dumber..lol
Posted by VOPatrol on November 29, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The sign, at least the one that they showed in the print version of the Star, is not in Spanish, only English. Don't be surprised to see that whole area cordoned off with K-rail and 10 foot high fences at some point in the near future. Previous to this drowning, 4 other people have been swept off the rocks at that location *this year* and killed. Fences, signs, common sense, don't mean anything to most people, so someone is going to have to do it for them.
Posted by Whatup on November 29, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
stana2z,
You spelled "rogue" incorrectly. 'Rouge' is makeup you apply to the face.
You are also wrong as is the star about "rogue waves".
Real 'rogue waves' are waves so immense that they have the ability to sink ships and ocean liners. They are known to rise as high as 23 to 49 feet, and occur out at sea, not in beach areas like Mugu Rock.
They are also known as "freak waves" and happen
when a strong current runs counter to the primary direction of travel of the waves out in the ocean, NOT rip currents, coupled with low water temperature.
Rip currents, ARE dangerous to swimmers.
Posted by IGMer on November 30, 2008 at 12:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hahaha...and more proof we are dumb
Posted by justdboy on November 30, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Never turn your back to the ocean.
Posted by opns on December 1, 2008 at 12:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh geez, deepest sympathy to the families of these persons. I will pray for you.
Sincerely
Posted by OxnardNative on December 1, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, and bless you Ms. Barrona. How unselfish, heroic and life giving. Who could ask for anything better this Christmas, than life and for someone like Ms. Barrona to give that gift to a perfect stranger? Some people truly are God sent! Merry Christmas!!
Posted by trek_queen on December 1, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People don't care about the signs at all. I had a geology teacher from Moorpark College have us take a 'field trip' to the location to look at rock formations then had us go through the fence. I refused to go since I am a local and am very familiar with the danger of the area but my protests were ignored, not to mention my recollection of the many people who died there that I mentioned very vocally. The entire class still went and a coast guard helicopter came by and hovered and swooped over the class in warning. Then they even climbed down the rocks towards the crashing waves when the tide was coming in completely without a sandy area to stand on. Plain stupidity if you ask me. Teacher was a complete hippie too.
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