U.S. Army specialist from New Jersey missing after being swept into ocean off California coast
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. – Search efforts are continuing for a 35-year-old U.S. Army specialist from New Jersey who was swept into the ocean Saturday at Soberanes Point in Garrapata State Park. The soldier, identified as Spc. Amanpreet Thind, is also a student at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said the incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday when three individuals — two women and one man — were knocked off coastal rocks by powerful waves. The two women were able to self-rescue and were transported to a local hospital, where they were treated and released.
A multi-agency search began immediately, involving the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, California State Parks, CalFire, the California Highway Patrol, the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, and the U.S. Coast Guard, which deployed both a helicopter and an ocean vessel. The Sheriff’s Office assumed incident command.
At about 4:24 p.m. Saturday, a Coast Guard helicopter located what appeared to be a body in the water, but visual contact was lost due to hazardous surf conditions and the individual could not be relocated. Thind was last seen wearing a white turban, black shirt, black shorts, and a black vest-style jacket.
Col. Christy L. Whitfield, commandant at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, confirmed Thind’s identity and service in a statement.
“The missing person from Saturday’s incident at Garrapata State Park is Spc. Amanpreet Thind, a U.S. Army Soldier, and student at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center,” Whitfield said. “As search and recovery operations continue, we hold out hope that Spc. Thind will be found. We offer our deepest condolences to the Thind family during this difficult time. We are providing those impacted with every resource and support service available and extend our heartfelt gratitude to local, state, and national first responders working tirelessly to locate Spc. Thind.”
Search operations resumed Sunday morning, but high winds, strong surf, and unsafe underwater conditions prevented divers from entering the water, limiting efforts and affecting drone operations throughout the day. The search was again suspended at nightfall.
On Monday, search teams from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, California State Parks and CalFire continued efforts, but water conditions remained unsafe for diving. A Beach Hazards Statement remained in effect, and officials warned the public to stay away from coastal rocks and avoid entering the water.
Search operations resumed Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred one week after a 39-year-old father and his 7-year-old daughter, visiting from Calgary, Canada, were swept into the ocean by 15- to 20-foot waves at the same park. Both died as a result.
