Chilling Rescue Operation Caught on Camera as Lifeguards Braved Monstrous Waves to Save Experienced Surfer Earlier This Year

Big Wave Surfing is never to be taken lightly. Every second brings a new obstacle that needs to be conquered. The catch is, one can’t slip up at all. One mistake that lasts even a second can be the difference between life and death. Surviving big waves is next to impossible without some professional help. This is usually why big wave surfers have a dedicated team that works on rescue.

However, not everyone has that kind of support or manpower. And sometimes, surfers might get stuck in harsh conditions at the sea without intentionally meaning to. The same thing happened in January this year when a surfer got stuck in a dangerous spot in the sea with 16-foot waves crashing over him. His rescue was captured on video, and safe to say, it was truly a miracle.

Miraculous rescue leaves surfing community astonished

San Diego is an area regularly hit with dangerous and unruly surf. January of this year was no exception to this fact. San Diego experienced high surf which was so challenging, that it was a burden even the most experienced surfers couldn’t lift. While surfing at Windansea Beach in La Jolla, a surfer got stuck in a bad spot. In the video, it can be clearly seen that the surfer is not able to get out of the sea on his own.

Three lifeguards had to fight waves that were 16 feet tall. Their bravery turned out to be a boon for the stuck surfer, and the rescue was nothing short of a miracle. According to a report on the incident by Fox 5, many onlookers who were there to witness the high swell spotted the surfer struggling and immediately started calling 911. The video shows the rescue operation from start to finish. The lifeguards suit up exactly like the superheroes they are and then jump into the roiling sea to save the stuck surfer.

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The entire time, the waves can be seen crashing against the rocks with unbelievable force; a sight that would shake anybody’s confidence. Two lifeguards are seen jumping from the rocks. Then, in an amazing show of skill, they are seen weaving in and out of the water so that they are not swept away by the harsh sea. A third lifeguard is seen reaching the team riding a jet ski. They finally reach the surfer and rescue him.

Lifeguards issue caution against San Diego surf

The surf at that time was bad enough that the lifeguards cautioned anyone who wanted to attempt to ride them. Lifeguard Chief James Gartland with San Diego Fire-Rescue explained the entire rescue operation and said, “We had a very accomplished expert surfer who got pushed in, stuck in a bad area and he had to pull his leash and try to swim out. So we sent two lifeguards out after him. They hooked him up and brought them out from a rip current to a safe area. And a jet ski came and picked up all three and brought the surfer to safety.”

Gartland also added that while surfing for experts was discouraged, for beginners it was a big no-no. He said, “This is not a beginners day. This is not for the novice, not even the avid surfer. You should be an expert surfer if you’re going in the water today, you should have been in this type of conditions before. It’s tough to negotiate. This is the largest swell we’ve had in about five years.” In addition to this rescue, another male surfer was rescued from the area. He was surfing around La Jolla Cove. That surfer too, according to Chief Gartland, was an experienced one.

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