Authorities were warning beachgoers to be wary of "sneaker waves" Wednesday after a man was swept out to sea by several large waves and drowned off the Point Reyes National Seashore the day before.

Richmond resident Charles Francis Quaid, 59, was walking with his wife and a dog along the north end of Point Reyes Beach around 12:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day when a large wave knocked the woman and dog to the ground, according to National Park Service ranger John Golda.

Bystanders rescued Quaid's wife and the dog, Golda said.

The waves at the time were 10 to 12 feet high, which Golda said was not unusual for that stretch of beach, also known as 10-Mile Beach, and there was no high surf advisory.

The Marin County Fire Department was informed of the incident by someone with a cellphone soon afterward, Battalion Chief Mike Giannini said.

Both the fire department and a Coast Guard helicopter arrived about 20 minutes later, Giannini said.

Quaid had drifted into the surf and was no longer visible from the shore, Giannini said. A crew from the U.S. Coast Guard station in Bodega Bay recovered Quaid's body with a 47-foot lifeboat around 4 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman was evaluated by paramedics at the scene and then released, Giannini said.

The Point Reyes National Seashore's website warns visitors of "sneaker waves" that can occur at any time and drag beachgoers out to sea.

The Southern Marin Fire Protection District, Inverness Fire Department and the California Highway Patrol also responded, Giannini said.

A multi-agency water rescue team also responded on two jet skis, Golda said.