Arunay Pruthi, a 12-year-old boy, went missing on January 18, 2021, while visiting Cowell Ranch State Beach in Half Moon Bay, California. Arunay was with his father and 8-year-old brother when a sudden rogue wave, known as a sneaker wave, swept all three into the ocean. While his father and younger brother managed to struggle back to shore, Arunay was pulled further out to sea, approximately 100 yards offshore, and has not been seen since.
Despite extensive search efforts involving the U.S. Coast Guard, local authorities, and hundreds of volunteers, Arunay’s body was never recovered. His family and friends continued to search for several months, raising funds to support their independent efforts, which included hiring drones and boats, but eventually, they decided to cease active search operations in March 2021.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, Arunay's family launched the Arunay Foundation to raise awareness about beach safety and sneaker waves, aiming to prevent future accidents. The foundation focuses on educating the public about dangerous beach conditions and implementing safety measures along coastal areas to help save lives.Last Seen: Jan 18, 2021
