East Bay Lifeguard Helps Rescue Stranded Surfer Off Coast

HALF MOON BAY, CA — A Bay Area surfer was hoisted to safety over the weekend after he became stranded on some rocks off the coastline. The man, who was not identified, was unable to get to shore on his own so the U.S. Coast Guard and a lifeguard from the East Bay responded to the scene.

It happened around 1:45 p.m. Sunday when a man hiking in the Half Moon Bay area spotted the man out in the ocean, according to Coast Guard officials. The Coast Guard dispatched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and boat crew from its Golden Gate station to help.

An East Bay Regional Park District lifeguard helped the man swim into open water, where Coast Guard officials said he was hoisted to the helicopter and transferred to a waiting ambulance at a nearby beach for treatment. The surfer was uninjured.

"This is a perfect example of teamwork in action, from the good Samaritan who made the call to the lifeguard who helped the surfer back into the water so we could hoist him," said Coast Guard Lt. Anders Manley, who co-piloted the helicopter for the hoist. "It proves that keeping the Bay Area safe is a team effort, especially as more people get out on the water to enjoy summertime weather."

The Coast Guard aircrew consisted of Lt. Sam Hafensteiner, pilot; Lt. Anders Manley, co-pilot; Petty Officer 2nd Class Eli Bell, a rescue swimmer; and Petty Officer 3rd Class Dylan Langley, an avionics electrical technician.

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PHOTO: A Coast Guard aircrew circles above a lifeguard and a surfer in the water before hoisting the surfer onto the helicopter near Montara State Beach in Half Moon Bay, California, July 8, 2018. (Coast Guard courtesy photo/released) CREDIT:: Petty Officer 3rd Class Sarah Wilson / U.S. Coast Guard District 11

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Bay City News Service contributed to this report