Man, 26, Was Swept Out to Sea While Surfing. What His Friend Did Next Changed Everything
- - Man, 26, Was Swept Out to Sea While Surfing. What His Friend Did Next Changed Everything
Nicholas RiceFebruary 15, 2026 at 7:00 AM
0
A surfboard in the ocean (stock image).
Getty
A man was surfing near Haskell's Beach in California when he was knocked off his board and swept out to sea
The surfer's friend saw his board wash ashore and acted quickly to save the man's life
Haskell's Beach, formerly Tecolote Beach, is located at the base of the Bacara Resort in Goleta
A surfer's life was saved thanks to the quick actions of his friend.
A 26-year-old man, whose identity has not been shared publicly, was surfing near Haskell's Beach in Goleta, Calif., on Feb. 6, when he was knocked off his surfboard by strong waves, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The surfer was then pulled out to sea by the current, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBCFD), and when his surfboard washed ashore, the man's friend called 911 and reported him missing, per the Times.
After officials got the call — which they said was "a move that made all the difference" — they arrived at the beach and deployed infrared drones. Officials then located the surfer about a quarter mile out, and they subsequently guided rescue swimmers to him, the SBCFD said.
The surfer was eventually found clinging to a lobster trap buoy while waiting for help. The SBCFD shared video of the rescue on Instagram.
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
View this post on Instagram
After the surfer made it back to land safely, he said he didn’t require medical care and he was released, the SBCFD said in a post on X.
The California fire department expressed thanks "to the quick-thinking friend," as well as "the dedicated firefighters and the life-saving drone technology."
"The surfer was able to make it back home safely," the SBCFD, which oversees the large West Coast county, added.
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
The SBCFD also shared an important "safety reminder" for surfers: "Don’t go into the ocean alone in rough conditions. It matters."
Haskell's Beach, formerly Tecolote Beach, is located at the base of the Bacara Resort in Goleta.
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
