Coast Guard Helicopter Rescues Kite Surfer Off Pinole (Video)

PINOLE, CA — The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a kite surfer who was struggling to return to shore in San Pablo Bay near Pinole on Tuesday morning.

A witness reported around 10:30 a.m. seeing the surfer struggle and unable to make it back to shore for about two hours in the waters off Pinole Shores Park in unincorporated Contra Costa County.

Coast Guard officials said 911 dispatchers contacted the Coast Guard, which dispatched a 45-foot boat from its station in Vallejo and a MH-65 Dolphin from Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco to attempt to rescue him.

Due to the low depth of the water, the helicopter lowered a rescue swimmer to the surfer, then hoisted both back to the helicopter. Nobody was injured.

Coast Guard officials advise mariners to keep a VHF radio on them when on the water at all times, adding that they are more effective than cellphones when you need to reach the Coast Guard in an emergency.

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— Bay City News; Image/Video via US Coast Guard