By Gregg Smith, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Public
Affairs
SEAL BEACH, Calif. (NNS) -- A harbor patrol boat crew from
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach rescued a local surfer during extremely heavy
wave conditions off the coast on August 27.
While on patrol escorting a ship into Anaheim Bay, the
security Sailors observed a person in distress near the entrance of the harbor
breakwater.
"I couldn't believe that there was someone in the water
way out there," said Master-at-arms Second Class Devin Terry.
A hurricane off the coast of Mexico had created much higher
than normal swells of over twelve feet, high surf, and dangerous rip currents
throughout the southern California coastal region.
"It was the worst I've experienced in my ten years in
the Navy," said Master-at-arms Second Class Robert Craven, "It was
just horrible out there."
The Sailors carefully maneuvered their boat near the surfer
and quickly determined that he needed help.
"He said that he had been stuck there for over an hour
and a half, fighting the water," said Craven.
The surfer, a 30-year-old man from Lawndale, Calif., was
picked up and later transferred to an Orange County Sheriff's Department patrol
boat for the trip back to dry land. The Navy security boat crew meanwhile
resumed their patrol.
"He was really thankful, and really happy to get out of
the water," said Terry.
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