October 15, 2026 – Monterey County Sheriff's Office officials report that on October 13, 2026, just after 1:00 P.M. Deputies from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, along with fire and ambulance personnel, responded to Sand Dollar Beach, located at 69000 block of Highway 1 along the South Monterey County coastline, for a report of a missing adult scuba diver. A large-scale, multi-agency response was initiated, including personnel from Big Sur Fire, Cambria Ambulance, California State Parks Lifeguards, the U.S. Forest Service, and a U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter.

Once first responders arrived on scene, it was learned that the missing person was a swimmer and not a scuba diver. Upon initial search, a lifeguard was deployed in the water near the last point seen, and additional personnel searched the nearby shoreline. The missing adult male was located near the rocky coastline on the south end of Sand Dollar Beach. The male was unresponsive, and life-saving measures were administered. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter hoisted the individual from the rocky coastline and transferred him to awaiting ambulance personnel for further medical care. Despite life-saving efforts, the male did not survive and was pronounced deceased.

The decedent has been identified by the Monterey County Sheriff-Coroner as 38-year-old Trevor Valentine of Casa Grande, Arizona.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office extends its condolences to the Valentine family and all those affected by the loss. No further information is available at this time.

Source: Monterey County Sheriff's Office