A Coast Guard Air Station MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew hoists a stranded kite surfer from San Pablo Bay, Nov. 13, 2018. A bystander on shore observed the kite surfer struggling to make it back to shore and called 911. (U.S. Coast Guard video /Released)
SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard rescued a kite surfer after he became stranded in San Pablo Bay, Tuesday.
A bystander on shore called 911 dispatchers, who contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders at approximately 10:30 a.m., reporting the kite surfer had been observed struggling off Pinole Shores Park for two hours, appearing unable to make it back to shore.
Sector San Francisco launched a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Station Vallejo 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew to the scene to assist the kite surfer.
The boat crew could not reach the kite surfer due to the shallow depth of the water.
The helicopter crew lowered the rescue swimmer to assist the kite surfer, then hoisted them both back into the helicopter. The rescue crew then transferred the kite surfer to shore.
There were no injuries reported.
“Any time you’re heading out on the water, whether you’re kite surfing, kayaking, or boating, we strongly urge you to have a marine VHF radio on you at all times,” said Cmdr. Emma Silcox, Sector San Francisco's search-and-rescue mission coordinator. “They are more effective than cell phones when you need to reach the Coast Guard during an emergency.”
-USCG-