Boy rescued in Pacific Grove waters

The dangers of massive waves fresh in the mind of one family who nearly got swept away.

“No picture is worth your life or your family’s life so it’s definitely something we need to focus on as a community,” said Shelley Doninger, the woman who says she helped bring that family to safety.

She and her boyfriend were visiting the Pacific Grove beach near Ocean Boulevard and Asilomar Boulevard when waves came up to where their van was parked.

When the water jumped, it took a couple and their child with it. Doninger says she rushed into the water to help as others called 911.

“The kid actually fell backwards and hit his back,” Doninger said, “At that point I jumped down, helped the mother up and then went in.”

Pacific Grove police issued a warning on Facebook after the incident, urging everyone to be careful and aware of the ocean during high surf.

Still Doninger says she thinks more can be done to warn locals and tourists of the dangers.

“We need to get better warning signs and in different languages because things like this can’t keep happening,” she said.

Shelley and her boyfriend left shortly after the wave hit to get to safer ground, losing track of the couple and their son, but she had a message for the family she helped save.

“Give your son lots of love,” Doninger said, “I hope he’s not terrified of the ocean because it is a really fun place.”