Emergency responders rescued two surfers at the Hook in Santa Cruz on Wednesday, November 5. One surfer was unconscious and received CPR. His current condition is unknown.
Crews said they initially spotted a surfer in distress but struggled to locate him in the turbulent surf. They eventually found the victim on the rocky shoreline; he had suffered head trauma and was unconscious.
“The victim was removed from the water to a rescue watercraft and then moved over to Harbor Patrol and then transported back to the harbor,” said Santa Cruz County Central Fire District Division Chief Patrick Winters. “They performed CPR during that transport and then he was handed off to Santa Cruz City paramedics as well as AMR.”
The harbor is roughly 2.5 miles by boat from the Hook. While the surf wasn’t particularly large on Wednesday, rain and persistent onshore winds created stormy, disorganized conditions.
“Right now we have almost storm conditions with very disorganized surf, with that coupled in with the high tide can create very challenging conditions both in the water and water entry points that surfers might be using,” said Turner Roll, a California State Parks lifeguard.
A photojournalist on scene reported that the two victims were male surfers in their 20s. He said one managed to exit the water on his own, while the other was thrown against the rocks.
The Hook, a popular right-hand reef break at the end of 41st Avenue in Capitola, has only one staircase access point, which becomes difficult to use during high tide.
