SFSU student wrestler missing in the ocean after joining in California polar bear plunge
Hamzah Alsaudi, 22, a San Francisco State University student is missing after participating in a polar plunge event off the California coast on January 19, according to Yahoo! News.
The missing swimmer was identified as Hamzah Alsaudi, 22, who is a San Francisco State University wrestler from Santa Monica. He is described as being 6’1” tall and weighing 215 pounds with brown hair. He was last seen wearing black shorts.
On Friday, police in Pacifica, California, reported that on January 19 at approximately 10:30 a.m., officers were working with the North County Fire Authority and American Medial Response who had all responded to Esplanade Beach for a reported swimmer in distress and missing. It was reported that during a polar bear plunge, three adult males had gone into the ocean along Esplanade Beach. While in the water one of the young men, Hamzah Alsaudi, was struck by a large wave and pulled farther away from the shore.
The two other swimmers were able to get out of the water and called 911 for assistance.
Officers and fire fighters searched the area and surrounding beaches for the missing swimmer without any success. Assistance was requested from the U.S. Coast Guard, California State Parks Ocean Life Guards, the California Highway Patrol air unit, and the San Bruno Police Department for use of their drone to aid in the search.
The U.S. Coast Guard responded with aircraft and a surface vessel to assist in the search.
Alsaudi is a political science major at the SFSU with a minor in Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Gator community right now as we process this news,” the school said. “We remain deeply grateful to the Coast Guard, Police Department, and others for all they have done to help with the search.” ~ NBC News
For more on the popular and missing SFSU student wrestler, see the video accompanying this article.
(Source: Pacifica Police Department)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
