Search ends for 2 teens swept to sea by wave at San Francisco beach

SAN FRANCISCO -- Rescuers have called off a search for two teenage boys who were swept out to sea while playing in the surf at San Francisco's Ocean Beach.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the boys, both 17 years old, were presumed drowned Saturday after rescue teams from the Coast Guard and the San Francisco Fire Department failed to find them during a nearly five-hour search.

Rescuers called off the search at 9 p.m. CBS San Francisco reported the teens were swept out to sea after they succumbed to a large wave that separated them from three of their friends.

The five from Vallejo had locked arms and walked into the surf as part of a day at the beach in the warm weather, fire spokesman Jonathan Baxter said.

The large wave forced the boys' arms apart. The three who were able to swim to shore are in stable condition at a hospital. One is 18 years old and the others are 17.

Baxter said no recovery effort will continue Sunday. He said the boys' families understood what likely happened to them.

Fire officials sent more than 20 rescue swimmers, two jet skis and a rescue boat to the search, CBS San Francisco reported.

The water at Ocean Beach was 54 degrees and ankle deep water at the beach is strong enough to pull an adult into the water, Baxter said. He said emergency officials always discourage people from swimming at the beach.

"At Ocean Beach we always have dangerous conditions," he said.

Anyone who decides to swim must be a good swimmer and aware of the ocean conditions, Baxter said.

The names of the teens have not yet been released.