Massive Waves, Riptides Pull Two Men Out To Sea Off San Francisco, Team Of Firefighters Perform Daring Surf Rescue
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — At least two men were hospitalized in critical condition after being rescued by firefighters at San Francisco's Ocean Beach Wednesday afternoon.
Fire crews responded to a report of a rescue at Ocean Beach, opposite the Beach Chalet where John F. Kennedy Drive intersects with the Great Highway, around 3:45 p.m., Fire Battalion Chief Cherish Murdock told KCBS.
"We had about fourteen units respond to a surf rescue. Our initial report was one person on the beach, one person in the water. When we arrived there was one person that was on the beach and another person in water," she said.
"We were searching for the person in the water. Eventually, we got him out."
Firefighters Rescue Two Men At Ocean Beach In San Francisco
Murdock said that both victims were critically injured. One was transported to St. Mary's Hospital and the other to UC San Francisco.
The two men are related, according to Murdock.
Witnesses described the scene as frantic and said that CPR was administered to the man pulled out of the surf by paramedics.
The area is notorious for its riptides and undertow.
Last April, a 14-year-old boy went missing when he was caught in the rough waters. An all-night search, at the time, failed to turn up his body.
