Man swept to sea in Big Sur identified as U.S. Army soldier
The man who was swept out to see while visiting Big Sur on Saturday has been identified as New Jersey resident Amanpreet Thind, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Thind, 35, was a U.S. Army specialist, soldier and a student at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, the release said.
“As search and recovery operations continue, we hold out hope that Spc. Thind will be found,” U.S. Army Col. and Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center commandant Christy Whitfield said in the release. “We offer our deepest condolences to the Thind family during this difficult time.”
Whitfeild said the Army is providing those impacted with “every resource and support service available” and thanked local, state and national first responders who are working to locate Thind.
Thind was one of three people who were swept off rocks and into the ocean at Soberanes Point within Garrapata State Park in Big Sur last weekend. Two women were able to self-rescue and were transported to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries, the release said.
A large-scale multi-agency response was initiated immediately, the release said, with search efforts continuing each day. Efforts suspend when it’s dark for safety reasons, the release said.
On Monday, the release said, search efforts resumed led by the Sheriff’s Office with California State Parks and Cal Fire. The Sheriff’s Dive Team has not been able to enter the water due to unsafe conditions, the release said.
“Conditions appear favorable for Wednesday and a water search may begin depending on those conditions,” the release said.
The Sheriff’s Office asked the public to avoid Soberanes Point as search efforts continue. A Beach Hazards statement, warning of possible sneaker waves and strong rip currents with waves 13 to 18 feet, remains in effect until 10 p.m.
This was the second similar incident in a little over a week.
On Nov. 14, the Sheriff’s Office began a search for a missing 7-year-old who was swept into the ocean at Garrapata State Beach alongside her father.
The father was located and sent to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The daughter’s body was found after a three-day search.
This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM.
