A California woman said three devastating words just moments before a powerful wave swept her into the ocean, according to her husband.
Kaylee Molina, 30, originally from Indio, died Wednesday after being slammed against rocks at Sycamore Cove Beach in Ventura County, The Post reported.
Her husband, 32-year-old Roberto Clemente, was pulled into the water as well. He managed to reach the shoreline and call 911.
In an emotional interview with the California Post, Clemente recalled that Molina pleaded, “Hold my hand,” as the surf carried her away.
Clemente, who was suffering from a severe cough after inhaling seawater, said the couple had been visiting California from their home in Texas.
The pair had hiked down to Sycamore Cove Beach near Malibu to watch the Pacific Ocean at sunrise. They had also visited the beach the previous day.
While sitting on the sand, they realized the waves were moving dangerously close. They decided to leave and turned away from the water.
“She tells me, ‘Hold my hand, hold my hand,’” Clemente said, pausing repeatedly as he fought back tears. “We’re trying to hold each other’s hands, and before I know it, we’re separated.”
More waves rushed toward them, and the water deepened within seconds. Clemente said the ocean quickly overwhelmed the couple.
Both were dragged underwater. Struggling to breathe and close to losing consciousness, Clemente surfaced and used the rocks to pull himself back onto land.
He then saw Molina facedown in the water, her brightly colored hair visible above the surface. Clemente said she did not know how to swim.
Clemente said he pulled her toward shore and attempted CPR. “I tried giving her CPR, but I was so exhausted already at that point, I couldn’t do it,” he recalled.
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He called 911 in a panic and shouted for anyone nearby to help. Ventura County officials arrived at about 11:40 a.m. and pronounced Molina dead at the scene.
First responders transported Clemente to a hospital soon afterward. He said he wanted to remain with his wife, but emergency workers insisted that he receive medical attention.
He said doctors told him he was physically okay before giving him the heartbreaking news. “There’s no easy way to tell you this, Roberto, but Kaylee passed away,” he recalled hospital officials telling him.
Clemente is now arranging a memorial for his wife, while Molina’s family has launched a fundraiser to bring her body back to Texas.
Molina was one of four siblings. Her family said her death has “left a heartbreak in our family that words cannot fully express.”
Clemente said he still struggles to understand how quickly everything changed. The couple had been enjoying a romantic week in Southern California and planned to camp and visit more beaches throughout the region.
“I wish I could have done more,” he said. “I wish I would have been smarter, not got into the water or just not gone to the beach.”
“Hold on to your loved ones because you never know,” Clemente added, urging people near the shoreline to stay alert and know where the closest lifeguard is located.
The pair were together for 10 years and had been living in El Paso at the time of Molina’s death. She grew up in Indio and worked as a toll collector for the city of El Paso.
Clemente plays in a band and works as a slot machine technician.
Molina’s exact cause of death is still under investigation.
