Higgins didn’t realize the dangers posed by the unfamiliar territory.
Higgins, 41, and her 5-year-old daughter, Indali Higgins, had been wading in shin-deep water on Monday afternoon when a combination of shore break waves and strong riptides dragged the pair away from shore. In a matter of minutes, they were soon seen far away from shore and in a great deal of distress.
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In spite of the best efforts of rescuers, mother and daughter were pronounced dead that night at Stanford Hospital.
Tuesday, Higgins was remembered by her husband, Scott.
“Angie was a devoted mother that did everything she could to make sure that the girls were raised very properly and with all the love in the world,” he said.
Indali, nicknamed “Indu,” was described by her father as a young girl who loved to “sing and dance” and “loved to play animal games with her sister.”
Scott Higgins, himself a former Half Moon Bay resident, did not go to the beach with his family on Monday. He was unsure why his wife decided to take the children to the Coastside.
“I don’t know why she chose that beach,” he said. “I don’t know why she went to the beach yesterday.”
After the tragic drowning deaths of mother and daughter, locals and tourists alike have been warned to be extremely careful along Coastside beaches.
Pillar Point Harbormaster Dan Temko urged beachgoers to be aware of the dangers posed by unpredictable water conditions and currents.
“Summer comes and more and more people come down to the beach,” he said. “Any beach can be dangerous and every beach has its own quirks and topography.”
He went on to describe the particular hazards posed at Montara State Beach.
“That beach is a very steep beach and can have a shore break,” he explained. “It’s also a cove-shaped beach that creates strong riptides. … Waves come right to shore with a lot of energy and rip currents can take people offshore really quickly.”
Paul Keel, superintendent for the California State Parks San Mateo County Coast Sector, said there are warning signs up and down the beach and that they might consider adding more on and around Montara State Beach. He also said it’s easy to lose your footing on Montara State Beach.
“What happens is that you get washed off your feet and then you tumble down that steep beach,” he said. “You can’t stand up and then you get caught in the rip.”
Keel said part of the problem with warning people about rip currents is that they are omnipresent and always shifting. “They are everywhere,” he said.
Monday’s events have left an indelible impact on those involved in the rescue attempt.
Joe Buzzella, chief pilot operations officer for the Coast Guard, who flew the young girl to Stanford Hospital said that he and his team held a moment of silence this morning after hearing the news.
Rich Sampson, CalFire division chief, believed that the incident hit close to home for many of his fellow firefighters, requiring a debriefing session after the rescue with his crew.
“If you think about it, there was a 5-year-old involved, and most of these guys have kids,” he said. “It’s good just to get everyone together to talk about it and get it off their chests.”
In light of the situation, Temko had words of advice to future beachgoers, emphasizing that tragic situations like these could be avoided.
“Sometimes it can be safe and it can be paradise out there,” he said. “But the size of the waves can change radically on the beach. … Be aware of the particular beach your at. It’s good to ask authorities and look at warning signs.”
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