POINT REYES, Calif. (January 2, 2013)--A man was swept out to sea and drowned while trying to save his dog, which was hit by a rogue wave on a Northern California beach.

The Coast Guard says the man and his wife were walking on the beach near Point Reyes on New Year's Day when a wave overtook the dog.

Point Reyes is a popular tourist destination about 30 miles northwest of San Francisco.

The couple went into the water to rescue the dog, but the man was swept away.

His body was found about three hours later.

The wife and dog made it safely to shore.

The man’s name wasn’t immediately released.