North Bay Teen Dies After Being Swept Out to Sea

NORTH BAY, CA -- The Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office has identified a young woman who died on President's Day after being swept out to sea near Schoolhouse Beach. She later died at a local hospital.

The deceased has been identified as Victoria Alvarez, a 19-year-old female from Fairfield. Her family has been informed of her death. The Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office has scheduled a forensic pathologist to conduct an examination to determine the cause of death.

Alvarez and four friends were walking on the shore near Schoolhouse Beach around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 20 when a rogue wave swept Alvarez out to sea, Bodega Bay firefighter-paramedic Marco Barros said.

A State Parks ranger from Salmon Creek and two swimmers from the Bodega Bay Fire Protection District were unable to reach Alvarez because of the turbulent surf, and the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office's helicopter responded.

The helicopter crew used a long-line to hoist the woman from the water and she was taken to a local hospital where she died, Barros said.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock