A tragic scene unfolded Thursday afternoon at Ocean Beach when a man lost his life trying to save his dog from the surf, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.
The incident occurred around 2:08 p.m. near Lawton Street, where witnesses saw the middle-aged man enter the water after his dog. Fire officials reported that the man collapsed in the surf for reasons that remain unclear.
Two women at the scene pulled the unresponsive man from the water and immediately called 911. National Park Service personnel arrived within minutes and began CPR. San Francisco firefighters followed soon after, administering additional life-saving efforts before transporting the man to a local hospital.
Despite those measures, the man was later pronounced dead. His identity has not yet been released by authorities.
The dog, however, made it safely back to shore on its own and survived, officials confirmed.
The incident serves as a somber reminder of the dangers of coastal waters and the risks people face when attempting water rescues without proper equipment or training.