A surfer died after he was rescued by lifeguards from choppy waters off San Francisco’s Ocean Beach on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
About 1:20 p.m., the San Francisco Fire Department was alerted to a report of a surfer in distress at Ocean Beach near Lincoln Way, according to San Francisco Fire Capt. Jonathan Baxter.
At the same time, an off-duty National Park Service lifeguard who was surfing in the area and three on-duty lifeguards noticed a surfer waving their hands above their head — a recognized sign of distress, Baxter said.
The lifeguards swam toward the location, just outside the surf line, and found the distressed surfer face down, unconscious and not breathing.
They began life-saving measures while bringing the man back to shore, where paramedics from the San Francisco Fire Department continued with advanced life support care.
The surfer was transported to a local hospital in critical condition but died there despite lifesaving efforts, Baxter said. The surfer’s name and the cause of death have not been released.
The National Weather Service issued a Beach Hazards Statement along the coast, effective through 3 a.m. Friday, for increased risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents at beaches across Northern California.