The Pacific Ocean ended 2023 with a bang, in terms of big waves.
A massive swell with multiple pulses sent surf to Hawaii and California, along with coastal destruction, dangerous conditions, folks getting swept out to sea, etc.
The latter of which being the latest; see below:
On New Year’s Day, a swimmer in Ventura County, California got stuck in a riptide. Luckily, a good Samaritan surfer was on-hand, and jumped into action.
KEYT takes the story from there:
“A surfer came to the rescue of a man caught in a Silver Strand riptide around sunset tonight in Ventura County.
“When Noah Gilbert heard about a 911 call about a swimmer in distress, he grabbed his dad’s new surfboard and ran to the beach and paddled out.
“The former junior lifeguard helped the swimmer get him onto his board until the Channel Islands Harbor Patrol arrived and took him to shore.”
According to local news, the incident also sparked discussion on lifeguard presence in the off-season months when ocean conditions are dangerous.
“Some locals say they wish there were winter lifeguards on duty,” continued KEYT, “especially during the big waves over the holidays.”
California did see some pretty hectic scenarios go down during the run of swell, including waves toppling over a pier in Capitola, a woman getting sucked out to sea by a surge, and surf spectators at Mavericks getting knocked out by a rogue wave.
The swell has significantly died down since then, but as always, stay safe.
***
Don’t miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Instagram, and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We’re always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels.
Whether you’re a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos.