State Park Ranger II

Department of Parks and Recreation

8/26/1986

Special Act Award (Gold)

On August 26, 1986, State Park Ranger Glen R. McGowan responded to an accident at Point Lobos State Park in Monterey County. A woman had fallen through a narrow crevice in the rocks into a deep subterranean grotto filled with violently turbulent sea water. Upon his arrival at the accident scene, Ranger McGowan saw the victim being battered against the vertical rock walls of the subterranean grotto. Her husband, covered with abrasions from his attempts to rescue her, was clinging to a ledge. Another man was on a ledge about three feet above the water. Although well aware of the dangers confronting him, Ranger McGowan jumped 15 feet down into the 51 degree water. He raised the woman’s head above the water and eventually was able to place a life jacket under her head and chest. During this entire time he was being tossed about in the surging channel: a number of times the wave and surge action carried them the length of the 35 foot channel. Several times they were sucked inland towards underwater caves that created an undertow. At those times, Ranger McGowan had to kick backward vigorously to keep them both from being pulled beneath the surface. It took approximately 35 minutes for rescue crews to pull the woman from the water. Ranger McGowan refused to be removed from the channel until ropes were lowered for the victim’s husband and the man on the ledge. Once both men were safely removed from the rocks, Ranger McGowan tied the rope around himself and was lifted out of the grotto. He was subsequently treated for hypothermia and lacerations.