Surfer Dies at Humboldt Beach After Being ‘Overcome by Waves’

A tragic incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at Moonstone Beach near Trinidad, as a 25-year-old woman, Martina Marie Scarfia of Eureka, died after being detached from her surfboard and overcome by waves, according to a press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office dispatched deputies to the beach around 3:51 p.m. following a distress call reporting a surfer in danger. Witnesses reported that Scarfia had been surfing with another woman when she got into difficulty. A fellow beach visitor attempted to swim out and rescue her.

Larisa King, who was present during the incident, informed local news outlet Redheaded Blackbelt that she and her husband alerted 911 when they noticed two surfboards washing ashore and a person in the water signaling for help. King later discovered that the person was Asia Autumn Scarfia-Ward, Scarfia’s older sister, who was attempting to resuscitate her sister.

Scarfia was airlifted to a nearby hospital by a U.S. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay helicopter after being rescued from the water. Unfortunately, she was later declared deceased, as reported by the police.

According to Scarfia-Ward, Scarfia lost consciousness due to an unknown medical emergency while surfing. She mentioned that Scarfia had graduated from College of the Redwoods’ nursing school just the day before the incident.

The cause and manner of death are still under investigation, awaiting autopsy results, as per the police’s statement.