SAN FRANCISCO -- The Coast Guard and local response agencies rescued an individual in distress south of Carmel Bay in Monterey County, Sunday.
At 11:53 a.m. Sunday, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center watchstanders were notified by Coast Guard Station Monterey Bay of an adult male reportedly washed off the rocks at Soberanes Point.
Upon notification, the Coast Guard immediately launched a Station Monterey Bay 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew and an Air Station San Francisco rescue helicopter crew. In addition to Coast Guard resources, state park lifeguards and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection responded shoreside.
Upon arriving on scene, California Fire launched a small rescue boat, but were unable to get close to the individual due to the rocky geography and size of the swells in the vicinity. A State Parks lifeguard paddled out on a rescue board and was able to pull the individual from the water. The lifeguard and rescued individual were then recovered by the Station Monterey rescue crew with assistance from the Cal Fire rescue boat crew.
"This incredible rescue speaks to the strong value of interoperability between federal, state, and local response assets," said Cmdr. Matthew Thompson, Sector San Francisco Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator. "Fortunately this individual was safely recovered. This case is a good reminder to take extra precautions when around the ocean during high surf and rip current advisories."
The Station Monterey rescue crew transported the individual back to Monterey, where they were evaluated for mild hypothermia and transported to the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula.
