Mother, father and son drown trying to rescue dog

November 27, 2012

A Northern California mother and father and their 16-year-old son all drowned over the weekend while trying to save their dog from strong ocean waves. [LA Times]

The family dog ran into the ocean to fetch a stick Saturday at a Humboldt County beach. Powerful waves at Big Lagoon, a beach north of Eureka, swept the dog out to sea.

Gregory Kuljian, 16, ran into the water to rescue the dog. Howard Kuljian, Gregory’s father, then entered the water to save his son. Gregory Kuljian managed to return to shore, but his father did not, so he reentered the water along with his mother, Mary Scott, to rescue his father.

All three were swept out to sea. Rescue workers eventually recovered the bodies of Howard Kuljian, 50, and Mary Scott, 54, but their son’s body remains missing.

The dog managed to get out of the water on its own.

Howard Kuljian and Mary Scott’s 18-year-old daughter, Olivia Kuljian, and Gergory’s 16-year-old girlfriend, Lily Loncar, watched the tragedy unfold from the beach.

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