Humboldt County Coroner’s Office press release: 

On March 15, 2015 at about 11:25 AM the Coroner’s Office was notified of an accidental drowning that had just occurred in the area of Black Sands Beach, Shelter Cove.

A family on vacation from Gardiner, Montana was at the beach when a thirteen year old family member slipped on a rock and fell into the ocean. The boy’s father went into the water and was able to push his son out of the water and back onto the beach. Before the father could exit the water, a large wave came in and forced him under water and out of sight. A short while later the body was seen face down in the water but too far out for any of the witnesses to attempt a rescue.

The Shelter Cove Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and was able to recover the body out of the water. Resuscitation attempts were made but the subject was eventually declared deceased at the scene.

The deceased subject has been identified as Steven Arthur Bierle, age 44, from Gardiner, Montana.