Crime & Safety
Santa Cruz Firefighters Rescue Surfer
The struggling surfer was off West Cliff at Woodrow and taken to a Harbor Patrol boat. Officials have advised care in the high swell.
A 42-year-old surfer was saved by Santa Cruz firefighters and a Santa Cruz Police officer was injured when he slipped during the rescue, according to a Fire Department report.
Three engines, one truck, one Battalion Chief, a harbor boat, two ambulances and 13 firefighters responded to the call at 6:12 p.m. Friday.
The surfer was stranded 100 yards offshore and because of the rough waves, rescuers decided to take him to a harbor boat rather than fight the waves to get him to shore.
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The surfer was unable to find the staircase in the dark that led to shore from Mitchell's cove, which is when he started yelling for help.
The Santa Cruz Fire Department reminds people that only expert surfers should go out in times of high swells.
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