The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and The Monterey County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that Ann Hauffe, 63, of Cocking has drowned whilst on holiday in California.   At approx 3.15pm a large wave swept her and her friend into the the ocean off Carmel River State Beach.   Ann and her friend Angela Jewell, also 63, were at the beach with their husbands. One of the men said the women were on the beach near the surf when a large wave rolled in and swept them both out. The men called for help, and a state parks lifeguard was the first to arrive. He was able to reach Jewell and stayed with her until a rescue boat arrived to pick her up, said Dana Jones, superintendent of state parks' Monterey sector. The rescuers were unable to reach Ann, and she drifted farther into the water and disappeared. While rescuers continued to search for Ann, her anxious husband Michael waited on the beach with his friend. He said he saw the two women get pulled into the water but didn't go after them because he isn't a strong swimmer. He ran to call for help. Michael Hauffe is the owner of Milestone Garage in Cocking.

Michael Hauffe, third from left and others watching rescue efforts   A Coast Guard helicopter diver goes into the sea to rescue Mrs Hauffe

A Coast Guard helicopter arrived from San Francisco, and the crew spotted Mrs Hauffe in the water. She was rescued about 90 minutes after being swept out to sea. Jude Acosta, a Californian Fire battalion chief, said she was not breathing and rescuers immediately began CPR.
She was taken to Community Hospital, where where resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.
 
Mrs Jewell was in good condition when she was pulled from the water, officials said.
Superintendent Jones said that if anyone gets into trouble near the shoreline, the best thing to do is to wait just beyond where the surf breaks for rescuers to arrive.
The strong surf can be deadly, she said, for those who try to make it out on their own.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national. We are offering consular assistance."
 
The couple’s children Paul, John and Sue are reportedly making plans to fly out to America to be with their father.
 
Rev Colin Bradley of Cocking Church said the village was "numbed" by the news. He said: “I know the family are deeply distressed by this and we offer them all the support we can.”
 
The half-mile-long Monastery Beach, where Mrs Hauffe was swept into the water is known locally as Mortuary beach, having claimed the lives of 20 people in the last 25 years