Surfer Rescues Swimmer Off Solana Beach, San Diego, CA

[snowbunnykim]

If you have not seen this story on the news you have to check it out. I have been surfing Cali for years and have to say people can be real nasty out in the water --but guys like this Brendan Smith guy from North County keeps the true Aloha Spirit Alive!! Nice work Brendan.

Check out the full story here

There is also a you tube video of the rescue in action here:

The story was also posted on a site that i guess he owns or works for here.

[Brocktoon]

Did you register just to clue us in, snowbunnykim?

[willywhit]

Bring on the good karma, this guy can cut the karma line after basically saving the old woman's life.
As a former lifeguard, it really impresses me when someone takes it upon themselves to just take action like this guy did. " Maybe we should call someone ? " NO ! Do something.
If he wasn't surfing and had to cross chest carry that lady out of the rip it could've been really dicey for both of them.
Watch the video and read the teletype on the bottom, ALL bad news.
Good to see the news actually covering a positive story for a change.
kim,
thanks for posting that.
welcome to TGR

[snowbunnykim]

yes i joined just to post this cool story. i' have never been much for forums i guess no that much to say or maybe i never found the right forum. but i saw this story and since every time i paddle out to surf i see nothing but meat head jerks i thought i would spread the word --be cool like this guy was.. did you see the news video he was pretty humble about the whole thing --anyway yes my mission was to share and hopefully spread this cool story..

[liv2ski]

yes i joined just to post this cool story. i' have never been much for forums i guess no that much to say or maybe i never found the right forum. but i saw this story and since every time i paddle out to surf i see nothing but meat head jerks i thought i would spread the word --be cool like this guy was.. did you see the news video he was pretty humble about the whole thing --anyway yes my mission was to share and hopefully spread this cool story..

SBK, welcome. TGR is the place. While the surf forum is pretty slow, the ski forums rock and there are always many laughs in the padded room. I am sorry to hear that "when you paddle out all you see is nothing but meat head jerks". Maybe you need to surf a different spot, adjust your attitude or a little of each. Surfing and skiing is as good as it gets in my book and rarely do I cross paths with some gapper that pisses me off when I am in the water or on the snow.
Come back and visit us often with some good stoke.

[boarddad]

Nice story but it's not all that remarkable. I saved a guy's life on Ocean Beach in San Francisco years ago. The drift was pushing me into the Cliffhouse rocks and it wasn't all that good so I paddled in. Some people came running down from the parking lot and alerted me that there was a guy swimming that was caught in the rip (REAL nasty up there!). The only thing I questioned was how I would approach him once I paddled out to where he was. I ended up giving him my board and swimming in on my own. He left the board on the beach and took off without saying anything.

Years later I was surfing with a buddy down in San Clemente. we spotted a guy swimming WAY offshore (about where the lady in the story was) and paddled out to him. On that occasion he was a marine out for a swim and didn't want our help. We kept an eye on him anyway.

Not looking for a brownie button or anything like that, just saying that the surfers I'm usually around would all do the same thing. If you've experienced otherwise I also suggest you find somewhere else to surf.

[snowbunnykim]

i guess i got people real defensive about my comments .. i was just looking to share a nice story about a good person who happens to surf.. The story I posted.

I surf Cardiff, Swamis, and sometime down south Sunset Cliffs. I have surfed all over Central and South America as well as Nor cal and the east coast. I'm not looking to make all surfers look like jerks, after all I'm one of them. I just think the sense of community and selflessness that was once at the core of human nature is diminishing daily and surfers are not exempt from this. You said the story i posted is not remarkable, i think you are so wrong. I believe what you did that day for the swimmer you rescued was also remarkable --thank you for being there.

The reality is that today it is more likely that people will turn there backs on a distressed swimmer, just like they will pass you when you have a flat on the side of the road or when you are being robbed out side a grocery store -- we are being trained to walk away, and that is a fact. The world and surfing community is Lucky to have people like You and Brendan.