AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – A 68-year-old surfer was rescued after spending over 24 hours stuck on rocks in Puerto Rico.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan were notified of a missing person on the evening of January 9th, with an AirBnB host alerting officials after the he had not returned to the home for over 24 hours. The man’s daughter confirmed that the 68-year-old had gone surfing around Surfer’s Beach, Aguadilla at noon on January 8th, and that he had not been heard from since.
The Coast Guard entered a the distress phase, issuing an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast. Puerto Rico Police Department, the Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA), U.S. Border Patrol, and local emergency responders all worked to assist in the search, with a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter launching from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen to begin shoreline and offshore searches.
The helicopter crew eventually spotted an individual matching the missing surfer’s description stuck on rocks next to a surfboard outside Surfer’s Beach. He was attempting to signal the aircraft. Surrounding rocks, reefs, and sea conditions made it impossible to reach the area by foot or boat, leading the aircrew to conduct a flawless hoist operation despite the difficult nighttime conditions and low visibility.
“What a terrific outcome! We activated the inter-agency search and rescue effort as soon as we received the information, especially after realizing that it had been more than 24 hours. It was truly a team effort and I appreciate the responsiveness and professionalism of Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, the Sector San Juan Command Center and our local emergency responders. This case could have easily had a different outcome. We urge all mariners and anyone entering the water to have a plan, communicate your intentions with someone and wear all proper life saving equipment.” – Capt. Robert Stiles, the deputy sector commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan and search and rescue mission coordinator for this case
The 68-year-old was in stable conditions and transported safely to awaiting emergency medical service personnel following the rescue.
