Flowers placed at the overlook trail down to Esplanade Beach in Pacifica, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. A San Francisco State University student was swept out to sea Thursday morning while swimming at a beach in Pacifica, according to authorities. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

PACIFICA — A San Francisco State University student was swept out to sea Thursday morning while swimming at a beach in Pacifica, according to authorities.

SF State student Hamzah Alsaudi, 22, was reported missing after he went swimming with two friends Jan. 19 at Esplanade Beach in Pacifica. (Courtesy of Pacifica Police) Courtesy of Pacifica Police

Hamzah Alsaudi, 22, a senior who wrestled at the school, had not been found as of Friday afternoon.

The incident was reported around 10:30 a.m. at Esplanade Beach. Alsaudi was swimming with two other people when he was struck by a “large wave and pulled farther away from the shore,” the Pacifica Police Department said in a news release.

Alsaudi’s companions made it back to shore and called 911 for help, police said.

Pacifica police officers and North County Fire Authority firefighters searched the area without success, police said. The U.S. Coast Guard also helped look for the student.

While residents at the nearby Oceanaire Apartment Homes complex said emergency crews were present through the night, there were no search-and-rescue operations visible off the beach around midday Friday and it was not clear if the search would resume. The Coast Guard did not respond to calls for comment.

Pacifica police described Alsaudi, a Santa Monica native, as 6’1” tall, 215 lbs. with brown hair. He was last seen wearing black shorts.

The university issued a statement Friday afternoon:

“Our hearts go out to the family, friends and classmates of beloved student and athlete Hamzah Alsaudi who remains missing following yesterday’s tragic accident. We are grateful to the Coast Guard and the Pacifica Police Department for all they have done. Campus resources are available for the members of our community who need assistance during this difficult time.”

At Manor Beach Friday, a single bouquet of flowers hung from a fence post. Neighbors described an extensive rescue scene the night before, with water, air and ground crews searching the area throughout the night.

Several signs in the vicinity of Manor and Esplanade beaches warned of dangerous rip-current conditions. Surf was high Friday morning, with waves nearly reaching the Manor Beach cliffside.

An ocean-safety page from the California Department of Parks and Recreation warned about swimming in such conditions, saying “large surf, cold water temperatures, backwash, sudden drop-offs, pounding shorebreak, and dangerous rip currents can turn what seem like safe activities such as playing near the surf line, wading, or climbing on rock outcroppings, deadly.”

Swimmers caught in a rip currrent are advised not to fight the current, but to swim out of the current in a direction parallel to the coastline; if they are unable to swim out of the current, they should remain calm and attempt to signal for help.

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A floating pool has been proposed for the city of San Francisco, which will be the first public pool of its kind in the city and will bring a new type of aquatic experience to the Bay Area. Located on San Francisco Bay, the Olympic-size heated pool would float on Piers 30-32, currently used as parking lots and being remodeled as part of the project.

The proposed floating pool would be surrounded by retail space, offices and apartments, including a 725-unit residential tower, 25% of which would be affordable housing. San Francisco State Senator Scott Wiener proposed legislation in 2021 authorizing construction of the pool on the state-owned piers. The plan proposes a unique recreation and relaxation space while protecting the city’s waterfront from climate change and sea level rise.

The concept has faced challenges as previous attempts to revitalize the piers have been unsuccessful. Previous plans to convert the area into a stadium, museum and cruise terminal have failed. However, Wiener is optimistic that this project will succeed. He believes the previous plans failed because attempts were made to rehabilitate the piers while this project is building them from scratch. The success of the project is dependent on city, state and various other government approvals.

The floating pool would be built on one of the two piers while the other pier would be converted into 375,000 square feet of offices and 45,000 square feet of retail space. The swimming pool would provide space for swimming laps, playing water polo and lounging in a Jacuzzi. A section of the bay surrounding the pool will be dedicated to open water swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding.

The project, similar to the Plus Pool proposed for the East River in New York City, aims to create an attractive and sustainable space that enhances the waterfront and offers opportunities for new homes and public spaces shared by all can become.

The new plan for the project is a change from previous versions that emphasized commercial space on the piers and gave the impression of a large office park with a small waterfront recreation. The latest version of the project emphasizes swimming, with a focus on public access to the bay and views of the Bay Bridge. The plan now envisages the rebuilding of a single pier, with the remaining pier being converted into an Olympic-size swimming pool, a shallow pool for swimmers, a jacuzzi and shower facilities. Along the Embarcadero there would be an indoor market with food kiosks and craft stalls for manufacturers to sell their wares.

The project’s developers, Strada Investment Group and Trammell Crow, hope to attract bay swimmers with a cordoned-off area similar to the aqua park near Crissy Field. They plan to heat the pools, most likely using fresh water rather than the cold water pumped from the bay. The developers have also released new renderings of the piers, which are more public than previous plans.

The piers’ redevelopment plan aims to revitalize the Embarcadero and make it a more pleasant public experience. The project’s success depends on making the Embarcadero feel less like walking past a few office building lobbies and more like an appealing waterfront destination. The concept has undergone several changes based on feedback from state agencies, particularly those who regulate the waterfront. The changes reflect a desire to create a space that is more in tune with the natural surroundings, with a greater emphasis on public spaces and waterfront recreation.

The project faced several challenges, including the fact that the site where the project is to be built is owned by the state, meaning that special statutory approval would be required before a developer could build there. The project must also be approved by the city, state, and several other agencies.

Developers hope the floating pool will offer a unique aquatic experience in San Francisco, drawing locals and tourists alike to the Bay Area. The concept had strong support from San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who said the project would help the city invest in critical infrastructure that protects the coast from climate change and sea-level rise, while also opening up opportunities for new homes and would create new spaces for the public to enjoy along the city’s beautiful waterfront.

Photo credit: Strada Investment Group

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