High Surf — Nueces County Islands, Texas

2020-10-09 · Nueces County Islands, Texas

Event narrative

A family was standing at the end of the Packery Channel North Jetty when a wave washed them over the railing and into the waters. The family and the lifeguards involved in the rescue were injured as they were washed into the jetty. A 60-year-old male had water in his lungs and had suffered trauma from striking the jetties. The man from Lubbock died on the way to the hospital. The other family members and multiple lifeguards suffered injuries, with one female lifeguard transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Wider weather episode

Large swells associated with Hurricane Delta over the northwest Gulf of Mexico reached the Middle Texas coast. A family was standing at the end of the Packery Channel North Jetty when a wave washed them over the railing and into the waters. Seas were rough, with wave heights of 6 to 8 feet. The family and the lifeguards involved in the rescue were injured as they were washed into the jetty. A 60 year old man from Lubbock died on the way to the hospital. The other family members and multiple lifeguards suffered injuries, with one lifeguard transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 924576. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.