Officials in ‘recovery mode’ after report of swimmer in distress near Oceano Dunes

Officials are now in “recovery mode” after they searched for a swimmer in distress near the Oceano Dunes on Sunday night.

The incident was first reported at about 8 p.m., when someone approached a ranger at the Oceano Dunes State Park to report a swimmer in distress, according to State Parks Supt. Kevin Pearce. The ranger then went into the water to do a search of the area, Pearce said, and was joined by some other lifeguards.

Other people also reported to rangers that they saw a swimmer in distress, but a 911 call was never received and none of the people camping reported that they were missing a member of their party, Pearce said.

Cal Fire and the U.S. Coast Guard also assisted in the search, Pearce said. The search was called off at about 9 p.m. due to weather conditions and nightfall, though the Coast Guard stayed out until about midnight. State Parks staff were back Monday morning, working in “recovery mode,” and doing another search of the area, Pearce said.

“There is a slight possibility that it may have been a marine mammal, but we’re waiting to see what evolves,” Pearce said.

This story was originally published July 17, 2017 at 11:15 AM with the headline "Officials in ‘recovery mode’ after report of swimmer in distress near Oceano Dunes."