Daughter ‘Devastated’ After Family Drowns Saving Dog

The daughter whose parents and brother drowned while trying to save their dog is “devastated” by the loss, a relative said.

Eighteen-year-old Olivia Kuljian watched from a beach in northern California as her brother, Gregory, tried to save their dog after he was swept away by a 10-foot wave.

Her parents then went in after him, and all three were swept out to sea.

“She is doing the best she can under the circumstances, but obviously she is devastated,” Kuljian’s uncle, David Scott, said. “To wake up and not have a family anymore, it’s just devastating. I can’t explain it. I hope no one else ever has to go through this.”

The bodies of Howard Kuljian, 54, and Mary Scott, 57, were found on the beach hours later. Sixteen-year-old Gregory Kuljian’s body has yet to be found after a search was called off Sunday.

Scott said he the family is waiting until the 16-year-old’s body is found to make funeral arrangements. He said the family’s friends in Humboldt County, California, have rallied around Olivia Kuljian and the extended family.

“She and her mother and the whole family were loved by the community, and I feel very good in my heart that they’ll take care of Olivia the best they can,” he said. “It’s very traumatic, of course, and I’m very thankful for the friends that have been very supportive. We’ve gotten hundreds of comments and prayers.”

The family’s dog was playing fetch with a stick on the beach when the 10-foot wave came in, Coast Guard. Lt. Bernie Garrigan said.

“The beach is incredibly steep, and we had 10 foot swells… come through there Saturday, and it is really really steep, so the 10 foot waves smashes directly on the beach,” Garrigan said. “They were throwing a stick for the dog, and the dog ran too close to the water and got pulled in.”

After the family was pulled into the water and a witness called 911, Coast Guard life boats and a helicopter rushed to the scene. They were unable to rescue any of the family members, and the search for Gregory Kuljian, also known as Geddie, was called off Sunday to cold, windy weather.

The Coast Guard said the teen would not have been able to survive in the cold water past Sunday.

David Scott said the members of the Kuljians community offered to take care of the entire family when they travel for the funeral.