California Woman Rescues Surfer After Wave Sends Him into Rocks

A California woman rescued an unconscious surfer after a large wave sent him crashing into rocks along the San Diego County coast on September 26. Benita Karo, 39, was walking on the beach in Oceanside when she noticed the unusually large waves. Karo, who lives in Carlsbad, was preparing for her daughter's birthday party and recorded the surf when she saw a surfer struggling to navigate the water. She observed a massive wave approaching the surfer, who did not seem aware of it. Karo described the moment, stating, "I see the wave. He doesn’t see it. It’s massive, and it just hits him, and he didn’t even see it coming." The wave knocked the surfer into the rocks, prompting Karo to run into the water to help. She found him face down and unconscious, so she held his head above water while waves continued to crash around them. Other surfers and nearby beachgoers assisted in getting the injured man out of the water and onto the shore. Emergency crews arrived shortly after, providing medical assistance. Karo reported that the surfer was breathing but had water coming out of his mouth. She sustained injuries herself during the rescue, including scratches and injuries to her toe, face, and back. Karo recalled her past experience as a lifeguard, noting the difference between managing a wave pool and the ocean, where waves continuously crash. The incident occurred as Hurricane Polo, a Category 3 storm with winds near 115 mph, approached Baja California, raising concerns about life-threatening conditions along the Pacific Coast.