A man has been swept out to sea at a beach in California after trying to save his wife and dog near Point Reyes. 59-year-old Charles Quaid was walking with his wife at the beach which is 30 miles northwest San Francisco when a wave swept the pair and the dog into the water. The man reportedly tried to save his dog and wife. But while the dog and his wife managed to get back to shore safely with the help of bystanders, Quaid drowned.

The tragic incident happened at 12:30 p.m. on New Year's Day. A helicopter was dispatched by the Coast Guard and the man's body was recovered at 4 p.m. after searching for over 3 hours. He was pronounced dead after being brought back to shore. His body was taken to Coast Guard facility at Bodega Bay.

Marin County Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Giannini told the Marin Independent Journal: "This is an example of the longstanding adage, "Never turn your back on the ocean. You don't necessarily know what the size of a wave will be at any time,' he added. 'We presume them all to be more or less the same, but there are times when large waves will come up on the shoreline and take people by surprise."

Visitors to the beach have been warned to stay vigilant when walking on the beach.

"You don' necessarily know what the size of a wave will be at any time," said Giannini. "We presume them all to be more or less the same, but there are times when large waves will come up on the shoreline and take people by surprise."