14-year-old girl rescued by surfers at Ocean Beach

i can't remember a year where there were so many people being swept out to sea. i'm glad this one ended well.

It seems like every time I go to OB I have a conversation with someone that goes something like this...
Me "Do you know this beach well?"
Them "Some sort of answer ensues"
Me "Ok well your kid is playing in a rip tide...."

Usually I end up pointing them to a safer spot... But I gotta say more than once I have had people (somewhat rudely) blow me off and I always worry about them...

Anyway props to the surfers who stepped up and thank heavens the swimmer got back to shore alright..

for the record, i was one of the folks who helped her out (thought it was a him...wonder if the Chronicle got that wrong too)...i surf OB but wasn't out for a surf...just enjoying the sunset. There were actually 3 of us, and the other 2 were also just in board shorts. No surfers, as the closest ones were further north. I agree with @Rev.MCC and wanted to say something to their parents or to his/her friends...But I think they learned their lesson. Admittedly, I was also very concerned for the young lady who went in after her first (and ultimately retreated). I called into 911 and the police arrived as we were getting out of the water, so they made it very quickly. Say 5 or so minutes from the time I called. A happy ending but I wish there was better signage out there warning of the dangers....and that people would respect the ocean and use better common sense.

Nice work, Dogpatch33!

@rev: Kudos to you. I've met with the same disbelieving stares from the negligent parenting corps. Better to offend the parents than to fish a dead kid out later.

I've actually had very good luck talking to parents at OB. Especially when I point out that there are "big potholes in the shallow water right there that can have junior up to his neck in seconds" or that "those sandstone cliffs Dakota is playing on can collapse and bury her in an instant." Perhaps it's the visual that grabs 'em.

I was at Montara beach yesterday about noon and watched as a girl in a bikini paddled out on a boogie board. My girlfriend and I were up on the hill watching a few guys tried to paddle out. One of them was slammed pretty hard on the shore break trying to paddle out. Well the girl goes running right over to where they were trying to paddle out and makes it right in. My girlfriend and I realized she was being sucked out pretty quick. One lone surfer paddled over to her when it became obvious she was getting sucked out. He tried to help her in and ended up towing her by having the girl holding onto his leash. The girl was almost in safely when she went over the falls on the break head first into the sand. The surfer was slammed trying to pick her up and get her in pretty good as well. I want to thank that man for saving that young girls life. I ran down from the hill to her friends and asked them they take her to the hospital. The girl appeared to be slipping in and out of consciousness and had a huge sand scrape on her forehead. The kids appeared drunk and rude saying that their friend was fine and thank you but they did not need help. I told them they should get her dressed, wrap her in a blanket if they hand one and get her to a hospital. I was pretty sure she could have sustained a head injury and possibly done some damage to her spine. I was extremely put off by one of the young girls attitude. They did not seem to understand what their friend had been through and seemed to want to put the party ahead of her well being.

That being said, I hope the young lady is alright and thanks to the man that saved her. I have been in the water at ob trying to help someone who was sucked out wading in the shore. I have been sucked out myself while surfing and wondered who would be there to help me. I realize that when you paddle out you are on your own. It is nice to know that people do care and are willing to put themselves in danger to help another person.

Once again, thanks to the Montara surfer and the three people that helped the young girl at OB yesterday.

Yep. Long ago lost count of the # of times I've watched guys and gals get pounded here. Rude awakenings, shore poundings, snapped boards, and hold-downs typically greet anyone not familiar with this kind of beachbreak.

I'm out over $400 so far on rescue gear (life rings etc) placed an the N and S access points. People keep freaking stealing them...

Could one of you point me to the places to go where I can wade out and then be sucked out? Thanks!

lol at whoa, I was wondering the same thing! Where are those rip tides when you need them?

Joking aside though, I'm glad at least for this time everyone is ok.

When I was 12, in '98 the year of the last el nino, i was sucked out in a rip on the ###### of the beach. It was kinda scary but most importantly, I had no idea what was going on!! Also the water was ridiculously warm that year.

Since then, I've saved people at ocean beach, santa cruz, and even in bali. The most recent was an SUP at ob this year.

People just have no idea about currents. why would they; how often do average people go to the beach or in the water. I'm pretty sure 7 people died at ocean beach durring the '98 el nino. I could have been number 8. I've been pretty respectful of the ocean since.

WTG Dog!

A few months ago, I posted about a buddy who got sucked out at Montara's ######. Before he knew it the current pulled him around the rocks and into the next little cove south. This guy's no slouch: used to surf Mavericks, surfs weekly, and is in shape. I had to call for a cliff-side rescue since he couldn't climb all the way up. The ocean holds all accountable.

10 surfers off Seal Rock saved from riptide
February 11, 2002|By Chronicle Staff Report

Ten surfers were plucked from the Pacific near San Francisco's Seal Rock yesterday after an unusually strong riptide took them out past the surf line and kept them from returning to shore.

Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Dan Brophy said several reports of surfers in distress were reported about 1 p.m. yesterday. Two motorized lifeboats were dispatched to help the surfers, he said.

Brophy said eight surfers were picked up at one time, another found later and a 10th was taken aboard a passing sailboat. The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter to scan along the coast for others in distress.

http://articles.sfgate.com/2002-02-11/news/17529258_1_coast-guard-surfer...

I think surfers with a bit of experience have an advantage in that they know that freaking out in a dicey situation only worsens things. The idea that it is safer to surf with a buddy many times goes out the window at OB. I think that 50% of the time I go out with a buddy we are about a mile apart after a few rides. One good left and you realize that you are in another zip code and with the current - forget it. So most the time you are on your own out there. Who ever that 14 year old kid was channeled some sort of calmness. He'll be back with a board come fall.