The sun was setting on Tuesday, Nov. 12, when the call came in for Cal Fire to respond to a kite surfer in distress near Scott Creek.
Cal Fire CZU responded along with Santa Cruz Fire Department, California State Parks, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, American Medical Response, and the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco.
When they arrived, the kite surfer was visible in the water, one from Davenport beach.
“We had about 15 minutes of daylight,” said Santa Cruz Fire engineer Clayton Powell.
Santa Cruz Fire Battalion Chief Josh Coleman said the kite surfer was waving his arms, screaming for help.
Rescue swimmers from the Santa Cruz Fire Department — Wilson Packard David Bodine — entered the water and paddled out to the kite surfer.
An aircrew arrived from the Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, operating an MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter and deploying a Coast Guard rescue swimmer (whose name has not been released) to hoist the kite surfer via basket and bring him to shore as the sun finally set.
The rescue swimmers from Santa Cruz Fire were still in the water, and
first responders were on the shore waiting.
“At that point, it was pitch black,” said Coleman. “We were able to talk directly to the pilot of the Coast Guard helicopter that came, and they immediately found our crews,” Coleman said.
All three rescue swimmers individually long-lined their way back into the helicopter, which transported them back to shore without any injuries.
“Couldn’t have been done without the full team effort,” said Bodine. “We had jurisdictions from all over the state, all over the county helping… We couldn’t have done it without Cal Fire, we couldn’t have done it without the Coast Guard, and the team members here at Santa Cruz.”
Images from linked videos.
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Watch the recap video here: https://vimeo.com/1029810386?share=copy
Facebook video link: https://fb.watch/vScrR7WoCJ/
Coast Guard video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3964074/coast-guard-rescues-kite-surfer-near-davenport-beach/