A surfer in distress was rescued from the waves at Ocean Beach today after he was overcome by high surf and rough conditions, according to a National Parks Service spokeswoman.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area dispatchers received a report of a surfer in distress on Ocean Beach at Sloat Street around 6 p.m., spokeswoman Alexandra Picavet said.
When lifeguards and U.S. Park Police arrived on the scene the surfer had already been pulled from the water by two men who had been boogie boarding nearby, Picavet said.
The two men provided rescue breathing, and the man was conscious and talking when he was taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment, Picavet said.
With high surf and strong rip currents expected to continue into tomorrow, Picavet said visitors to the beach should stay aware and never turn their back on the ocean, as “sneaker waves” that can knock people over are a possibility.
