San Francisco man dies in surf By MATT KAPKO Half Moon Bay Review December 29, 2004 The body of a 31-year-old San Francisco man was pulled from the surf at Montara State Beach Monday as relentless rain and 10- to 12-foot waves pounded the coast. An onlooker first spotted the body of Scott Tompkins, in full wetsuit, at about 3 p.m. as it bobbed in the surf line about 100 yards offshore just south of Devil's Slide. A Half Moon Bay Fire Protection District crew pulled Tompkins' body ashore just north of the mouth of Martini Creek. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate Tompkins, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Drowning has been determined to be the cause of death, said Tom Marriscolo, chief deputy coroner. The coroner's office conducted an autopsy on Tompkins body Tuesday. Officials on the scene said it appeared Tompkins was surfing the treacherous waves, although no surfboard was recovered. The man's roommate reported Tompkins had been bodysurfing Monday, according to the Sheriff's Office. He had reportedly bodysurfed the area previously. Tompkins had just moved to San Francisco from his home state of Kansas. His locked vehicle, with Kansas license plates, was found in the parking lot adjacent to the beach. Sheriff's Lt. Steve Shively was flabbergasted that anyone would brave the stormy weather at sea for mere sport. He said it was a bad day to be in the ocean with the heavy rains and unsettling surf. A few surfers were at Surfer's Beach at the time, but there were none along the coast south of Devil's Slide. Home