Waves crashing on Scotty Creek
photo credit: Sonoma County Fire District Facebook page

 Three people were rescued from Scotty's Creek north of Bodega Bay on Monday afternoon after being swept away by a powerful ocean wave.

It happened around 12:30 PM.

Sonoma County Fire District Division Chief Matt Windrem says he and a deputy were nearby when the call came in.

“We were making a delivery of prime rib for the crews who will be working on Christmas Day,” Windrem explained.

Windrem says they immediately went to the bridge where Scotty Creek meets with the ocean.

“As we arrived there, one person was making their way up some rocks, coming up kind of out of the creek. And we quickly checked in with her, and she said she had gotten tossed around in the water there, but she was with two other people and did not know where they were," said Windrem.

A person who had seen the wave sweep the beachgoers into the creek spoke with responders, indicating that two others had been pushed up the creek, but hadn’t seen them come back. Windrem says he continued his search.

“I made my way up the creek. Another firefighter came shortly behind me, and we went, I would estimate 150 yards up the creek, and then found the other two people, one of whom was already out of the water," said Windrem. "And the third person was still there, in the water, holding onto a log that was across the creek," he continued.

The woman in the water told responders she had hurt her knee and back.

Firefighters, along with other agencies, successfully rescued all three individuals.

Windrem says after the rescue, they were able to finish their initial task.

“Once everybody was taken care of, we were able to continue on and drop the prime rib off for the, for the crew that will be coming on duty on Christmas morning," Windrem said.

The Sonoma County Fire District urges beachgoers to always be aware of their surroundings, and never turn their back to the ocean.