Off-duty paramedic aids in rescue of unconscious surfer in San Francisco

Officials say the off-duty paramedic and another surfer started CPR and helped bring the injured victim to shore

December 14, 2020 02:09 PM

An off-duty paramedic and another Good Samaritan helped rescue a surfer who hit a rock and became unconscious at Fort Point in San Francisco on Sunday.

Amy Graff
SFGate, San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Fire Department is calling a rescue two surfers performed Sunday night in the tumultuous waters off Fort Point heroic.

The incident occurred shortly after 5 p.m., according to SFFD Lt. Jonathan Baxter, when a “body boarder ran into a large rock, becoming unconscious and submerged underwater.”

Two surfers, one of them an off-duty paramedic, spotted the body and immediately started CPR in the water as they brought him in through the surf zone onto shore.

Paramedics with the fire department continued life-saving measures on land, Baxter said.

The victim was in critical condition with shock trauma and was transported to a local trauma center.

Northern California beaches are seeing large breaking waves up to 20-25 feet and the Weather Service has a high surf advisory in effect through 7 p.m. Monday.

___

https://twitter.com/SFFDPIO/status/1338299621043408900?s=20 https://twitter.com/SFFDPIO/status/1338293886637146112?s=20