A surfer was found clinging to a lobster trap buoy after being knocked off his board and swept out to sea in California, stomach-dropping footage shows.
The 26-year-old man was swept away from shore by “powerful” high waves while surfing at a Santa Barbara County beach around 6:38 p.m. on Friday, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
The surfer was accompanied by a friend, who reported him missing — sparking an urgent, dramatic rescue at Haskell’s Beach in Goleta, the fire department said.
The rescue crew located the missing man’s washed-up surfboard on the beach, and teams deployed aerial drones with infrared cameras to scan the ocean, authorities said.
Harrowing video captured the surfer a quarter mile offshore, bravely clinging to a lobster trap buoy to stave off the strong currents in the dark waters, officials added.
Rescue swimmers were then deployed and safely escorted the man back to shore. He was not injured, authorities said.
“Never go in to the ocean alone, especially in rough conditions. It can save lives,” the fire department said in a statement.