Search called off for 24-year-old Bay Area woman swept into ocean near Santa Cruz
A multi-agency search was called off Monday afternoon in Santa Cruz after hours of searching for 24-year-old Senah Park.
Park was swept out to the ocean Sunday night.
"The hope is that we find her somewhere safe. Hopefully stranded on a beach somewhere," said Lieutenant Daniel Robbins of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.
RELATED: 8 rescued from Santa Cruz Co. cave after being trapped by rising tides
The sheriff's office says Park was out with a group of friends when an incoming tide knocked several of them off their feet.
Of that group, everyone made it back to shore except for Park.
News of the incident has spread around the region.
In San Jose, the pastor of Park's church posted a message on social media saying his heart is broken and asking their community to pray.
"In general, the sooner that we can get people out there, the better," said Michael Horn.
Horn is a spokesperson for CAL FIRE, one of the agencies that responded Sunday night.
Top Stories
RELATED: 2 college students dead after being swept into ocean in California, family says
Horn says Park is at least the third person to get swept out to sea from Panther State Beach this year.
An area that can be particularly dangerous, Horn says.
"That stretch of ocean between Natural Bridges and even San Francisco all the way up to Ocean Beach has a direct interface with the Pacific Ocean. It's not just part of a bay, but it has open ocean exposure," said Horn.
Horn is urging others to be careful around Panther State Beach and take all necessary precautions.
"The beach is a beautiful place to go, but it's very important to be educated before you go out there," said Horn.
