Man swept out to sea during beach baptism at Santa Barbara dune park
- 10 years ago
A California man is missing, feared dead after being swept out to sea during a baptism ceremony gone wrong on Sunday, local authorities said.
Forty-three-year old Benito Flores was part of a group of around 25 members of Santa Maria church Jesus Christ Light of the Sky taking part in the Baptism ceremony at the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve in Santa Barbara.
Several men were standing in the sea when a huge wave knocked them over and swept Flores and two other men out to sea.
Pastor Maurigro Cervantes tried in vain to grab Flores but he was swept away by a second wave.
The two other men managed to swim back to the beach.
But Flores was not so lucky. The huge waves carried him out to sea and he is still missing.
Several rescue teams and helicopters joined the search for Flores, but to no avail. The search is ongoing.
Forty-three-year old Benito Flores was part of a group of around 25 members of Santa Maria church Jesus Christ Light of the Sky taking part in the Baptism ceremony at the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve in Santa Barbara.
Several men were standing in the sea when a huge wave knocked them over and swept Flores and two other men out to sea.
Pastor Maurigro Cervantes tried in vain to grab Flores but he was swept away by a second wave.
The two other men managed to swim back to the beach.
But Flores was not so lucky. The huge waves carried him out to sea and he is still missing.
Several rescue teams and helicopters joined the search for Flores, but to no avail. The search is ongoing.