. >> reporter: on tuesday, 63-year-old claudia moore lost her husband, larry. they had been walking along the beach. she decided to wade out into the water. >> and suddenly, there were three, four huge waves. the third one was up to my hips and the sand was gone under me and i fell. it was like 200, 300 pound men pushing you down and it sucked me under. i know that's when he ran after me. >> reporter: the riptides were too much for 61-year-old larry moore, a physically strong man. >> there's just no way even a strong man can get through that. >> reporter: the coast guard sent two helicopters and a cutter. they spotted larry and were able to pull him out. a waiting ambulance transported him to the medical center but it was too late. separated from her husband, claudia was able to ride the swells back up to the top of the water. two men swam up to her. >> they were able to get me out where i could get on my knees and we all three crawled out. but it was very strong. >> reporter: she hopes by talking about her personal tragedy, she can prevent others from misjudgi

. >> on tuesday 63-year-old claudia moore lost her husband larry to the turbulent sea here in pacificabeen walking along the beach. she decided to wait out -- weighed out into the water.ñ >> suddenly three or four huge waves. third one up to my hip and the sand was gone under me and i fell. it was like two or 300 pound men pushing you down. and it sucked me under. and i foe that's when he ran after me. >>reporter: the rip tide were too much for 61-year-old larry moore. physically strong man. >> just no way even a strong man can get through that. >>reporter: the coast guard sent two helicopters and cutte cutter. they spotted larry and able to pull him out. awaiting ambulance transported him to seton medical center but it was too late. separated from her husband claudia able to ride the swells back up to the top of the wate water. two men swam up to her. >> then they were able to get me out where i got on my knee and we all three crawled out but it was very strong. >>reporter: claudia hope that is by talking about her personal tragedy she can prevent others from misjudging the seamingly

larry and claudia moore's love story spanned over 20 years. the married couple loved to travel.t called pacifica home. a friend what didn't want to be on camera says he was close with the family. >> you didn't see one without the other. that's a couple that i admired, because they were always together. >> reporter: claudia says she was picnicking with larry on the beach when she was caught by a sneaker wave. she told him to get help. she knew something was wrong when she didn't see larry on shore after being rescued. claudia found out her husband drowned trying to save her. >> that's larry, giving of himreceive. >> he would walk around the complex playing the flute. >> reporter: neighbors made a memorial. >> you can't take away his wife's grief by putting flowers, but i want to make something good of bad that happened. >> reporter: claudia says larry was retired. he beat cancer last year and had the utmost integrity and honor of any man she knew. virtues he showed in his final act. >> for him to pass away at 60 years old, it's very heartbreaking. >> reporter: the couple had no c