San Rafael Surfer Rescued from Rocky Area Near Rodeo Beach

By Bay City News Service:    

A distressed San Rafael surfer in the waters near Rodeo Beach in Marin County was rescued by helicopter on Sunday afternoon, according to a National Park Service spokeswoman.

 The surfer was identified as a 40-year-old man from San Rafael. He was taken to Marin General Hospital as a trauma patient, NPS spokeswoman Alexandra Picavet said.

The NPS received a call from the Marin County Sheriff's Office shortly after 4 p.m. reporting that a surfer was in distress among the rocks on the northern end of Rodeo Beach in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, according to Picavet.

Park Rangers arrived on scene, about three miles northwest of the Golden Gate Bridge, and found the surfer being smashed against the rocks by dangerous surf, Picavet said.

Rescue swimmers were sent into the water and the U.S. Coast Guard deployed a boat. Neither the boat nor the rescue swimmers were able to reach the victim due to the breaking waves, according to Picavet.

At 5:15 pm., a California Highway Patrol helicopter was deployed to the scene and lowered a rope to the victim.

The surfer was rescued from the water and was taken to Marin General Hospital where he was treated for minor to moderate injuries, according to Picavet.

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