Wyoming recruit Naphtali Moimoi swept out to sea, presumed dead

[Hoosier_Vol]

Tragedy surrounds the Wyoming football community this week following the news of signee Naphtali Moimoi going missing while boogie boarding with friends. The 18-year old Moimoi is presumed to have drowned when a rip current pulled him out to see, according to the Star Tribune.

San Mateo police announced last week that the search switched from a rescue to a “water recovery” after Moimoi went missing. Police have had no update since April 19.
“After an extensive search we are switching from a rescue to a water recovery,” the police department wrote on social media. “Search efforts have concluded at this time due to the lack of visibility & high surf conditions, & the probability of detection. We are working with the family & will continue to be a resource for them. … We have concluded the search on the waters in Half Moon Bay. We will continue to work with local authorities to be on the look out & follow up on any information we receive. Thank you to everyone who assisted with the search efforts.”

 

[C1500]

That would be horrible as a parent for the unknown. Prayers for everyone involved.

 

[joevol33]

I love the ocean, but rip currents scare me for my kids.

 

[sccshortstop]

Young man we recruited from Lousianna something similar several years back happened. Name on my tongue but I can not spit it out. I think he was on senior break or maybe spring break.

 

[Remy]

Half Moon Bay in NorCal is where the world famous big waves of Maverick's occurs. Maverick's is no joke and has killed expert surfers previously. If this guy was body boarding he probably did not stand a chance with big waves there. His name 'Naphtali" seems to be from the Book of Mormon and last name of Moimoi makes me think he probably was Samoan or Pacific Islander of some type. I hope his family finds peace with his passing and he rests in peace as well.

 

[NorCalVol67]

Half Moon Bay in NorCal is where the world famous big waves of Maverick's occurs. Maverick's is no joke and has killed expert surfers previously. If this guy was body boarding he probably did not stand a chance with big waves there. His name 'Naphtali" seems to be from the Book of Mormon and last name of Moimoi makes me think he probably was Samoan or Pacific Islander of some type. I hope his family finds peace with his passing and he rests in peace as well.

Mavericks is well off shore, but the waters on the Bay Area’s coasts are indeed no joke.

 

[CAVPUT]

There is no greater sorrow, no greater emptiness, no greater darkness to life than to lose a child. It's a grief like no other. I weep for his parents.

 

[LoudOrange]

Young man we recruited from Lousianna something similar several years back happened. Name on my tongue but I can not spit it out. I think he was on senior break or maybe spring break.

Ivan Zenon. I think.

 

[sccshortstop]

Ivan Zenon. I think.

Yep think you are right!!! I remember the Z but was not sure if first or last name. A very high rated recruit and a great get for us!! Thanks!

 

[Behr]

There is no greater sorrow, no greater emptiness, no greater darkness to life than to lose a child. It's a grief like no other. I weep for his parents.

I've not experienced it, but know two sets of parents very well that have and I believe you. I can't imagine.

 

[CAVPUT]

I've not experienced it, but know two sets of parents very well that have and I believe you. I can't imagine.

I pray you never do. Life ends for parents who lose a child. You exist rather than live. You look forward to death and being reunited with your child. Every day is filled with memories, regrets and things that remind you of them. You look for ways to escape, to be distracted from your loss even if for but a minute. Your heart is ripped from you. Your soul darkens. Your faith dies. It's hell on earth.

 

[volfanhill]

I love the ocean, but rip currents scare me for my kids.

Me and my swim team in high school went to California for a meet once. Probably 30 of us. Double digit number of guys who ended up swimming at D1 colleges. Long story short many of us learned what a rip current could do. Scary stuff.

 

[Behr]

I pray you never do. Life ends for parents who lose a child. You exist rather than live. You look forward to death and being reunited with your child. Every day is filled with memories, regrets and things that remind you of them. You look for ways to escape, to be distracted from your loss even if for but a minute. Your heart is ripped from you. Your soul darkens. Your faith dies. It's hell on earth.

Not sure what to say here, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone. So sorry.

 

[NorCalVol67]

I pray you never do. Life ends for parents who lose a child. You exist rather than live. You look forward to death and being reunited with your child. Every day is filled with memories, regrets and things that remind you of them. You look for ways to escape, to be distracted from your loss even if for but a minute. Your heart is ripped from you. Your soul darkens. Your faith dies. It's hell on earth.

I don’t know what to say, words fall short.

My parents have had to deal with it. It changed me forever, but what it did to my parents is indescribable.

 

[CAVPUT]

Not sure what to say here, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone. So sorry.

In hindsight, I suppose I shouldn't have been so free in my comments and posted such thoughts. My apologies to you and the board, Behr.

 

[CAVPUT]

I don’t know what to say, words fall short.

My parents have had to deal with it. It changed me forever, but what it did to my parents is indescribable.

So sorry for your loss. Just know that it's not that they don't love and cherish you just as much. They do and even more because they know how quickly things can change. Time with you is incredibly meaningful and important to them. It's something they value over everything else, but that loss...that void...it's ever present. It's never going to go away. It's never going to heal. Just know that they love you more than life itself. Just be there for each other.

 

[Behr]

In hindsight, I suppose I shouldn't have been so free in my comments and posted such thoughts. My apologies to you and the board, Behr.

I got no problem with it, at all. No apology needed, but accepted.

 

[Remy]

I've surfed for over 25 years. Surfed Maui at La Haina the year I turned 60. Will do it again at 70 & 80. Rips are no joke and I've been caught in several but one taught me how dangerous they really can be. It actually is not difficult to get out of one. You simply begin swimming perpendicular to the shoreline until you're out of the rip then you can swim/surf in to shore. The problem is they can be very very sneaky. The one that got me is I was among a group of surfers at Venice Beach. Lots of people around, I get ready to catch a wave and miss it. I turn to paddle back out to get back in line. I turn to face the shore and notice the other surfers re lined up to my right and must have missed paddling to where they were. So I begin paddling in, take a look, and hell they're further away than when I started. So I paddle like hell to get to them, now out of breath, and I'm further out still, waaaay out. NOW I realize I'm in a rip but too tired to do much about it, they brought the life guard boat up and took me in and I as a surfer took the walk of shame to my car. Rips are no joke, but you can spot them and avoid them but if you find you're in one you can get out, don't swim in to shore, swim with the shore until out of the rip and then you can swim to home free. Lifeguards can show you where most rips occur at their beaches, just ask them.

 

[joevol33]

Me and my swim team in high school went to California for a meet once. Probably 30 of us. Double digit number of guys who ended up swimming at D1 colleges. Long story short many of us learned what a rip current could do. Scary stuff.

My two youngest are both on swim teams and can swim good, but those rips are a different beast.

 

[VolNExile]

I've surfed for over 25 years. Surfed Maui at La Haina the year I turned 60. Will do it again at 70 & 80. Rips are no joke and I've been caught in several but one taught me how dangerous they really can be. It actually is not difficult to get out of one. You simply begin swimming perpendicular to the shoreline until you're out of the rip then you can swim/surf in to shore. The problem is they can be very very sneaky. The one that got me is I was among a group of surfers at Venice Beach. Lots of people around, I get ready to catch a wave and miss it. I turn to paddle back out to get back in line. I turn to face the shore and notice the other surfers re lined up to my right and must have missed paddling to where they were. So I begin paddling in, take a look, and hell they're further away than when I started. So I paddle like hell to get to them, now out of breath, and I'm further out still, waaaay out. NOW I realize I'm in a rip but too tired to do much about it, they brought the life guard boat up and took me in and I as a surfer took the walk of shame to my car. Rips are no joke, but you can spot them and avoid them but if you find you're in one you can get out, don't swim in to shore, swim with the shore until out of the rip and then you can swim to home free. Lifeguards can show you where most rips occur at their beaches, just ask them.

+1 Swim at a right angle to the shore until you’re out of the rip, but every instinct will tell you to swim toward the shore. If you can’t fight that instinct, then comes exhaustion, and drowning.

edit to add: good question by Pepe.

Yes, swim parallel to the shore. When you’re out in the water and looking toward shore, you have to swim at a right angle instead, not toward the shore.

If you get caught in a rip, your instincts will try to kill you.

 

[Pepe]

I've surfed for over 25 years. Surfed Maui at La Haina the year I turned 60. Will do it again at 70 & 80. Rips are no joke and I've been caught in several but one taught me how dangerous they really can be. It actually is not difficult to get out of one. You simply begin swimming perpendicular to the shoreline until you're out of the rip then you can swim/surf in to shore. The problem is they can be very very sneaky. The one that got me is I was among a group of surfers at Venice Beach. Lots of people around, I get ready to catch a wave and miss it. I turn to paddle back out to get back in line. I turn to face the shore and notice the other surfers re lined up to my right and must have missed paddling to where they were. So I begin paddling in, take a look, and hell they're further away than when I started. So I paddle like hell to get to them, now out of breath, and I'm further out still, waaaay out. NOW I realize I'm in a rip but too tired to do much about it, they brought the life guard boat up and took me in and I as a surfer took the walk of shame to my car. Rips are no joke, but you can spot them and avoid them but if you find you're in one you can get out, don't swim in to shore, swim with the shore until out of the rip and then you can swim to home free. Lifeguards can show you where most rips occur at their beaches, just ask them.

I'm confused. Don't you mean parallel instead of perpendicular?

 

[n_huffhines]

.

 

[Roustabout]

Ivan Zenon. I think.

I remember that as well. DT prospect I think

 

[LoudOrange]

His parents were honored at a game the following season and presented a jersey with his name.

 

[Remy]

I'm confused. Don't you mean parallel instead of perpendicular?

Yep, my bad, parallel is what I should have originally said. Happy to set the record straight.