A 26-year-old surfer spent up to half an hour in open water off Santa Barbara County before rescue crews found him clinging to a lobster trap buoy and brought him back to shore.
The incident happened at Haskell's Beach in Goleta around 6:28 p.m. on Friday evening, when the surfer and a friend went out for a night session in building surf.
According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the man lost his board in high surf and was pulled farther from shore.
His friend made it back to the beach and quickly called 911 to report him missing.
"A 26-year-old male surfer was swept away from shore by powerful high surf after losing his board," Fire officials later confirmed in a public statement.
"He was surfing with a friend, who reported him missing immediately - quick action that made a huge difference."
Rescuers soon found the surfer's board washed up on the beach, a sign that he had been separated from it in the water.
Surfline reported that waves at Haskell's were still pumping through sundown, even after easing slightly in the afternoon.
Spotted offshore by an infrared drone
With daylight fading, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department deployed aerial drones equipped with infrared cameras to scan the ocean.
The drones picked up the surfer about a quarter mile offshore. He had grabbed onto the buoy attached to a lobster trap and was holding on while waiting for help.
"The surfer managed to grab onto a lobster trap buoy and held on while waiting rescue," the department said.
Officials estimated he stayed on the buoy for about 20 to 30 minutes before crews reached him.
Rescue swimmers guided in by air
Once the surfer was located, water rescue personnel entered the ocean. They were guided toward him by the drone's live video feed and a floodlight.
"Rescue swimmers swam out, made contact under real-time drone operator guidance, and safely escorted him back to shore," the department said.
The entire rescue took about 30 minutes from the initial call.
Firefighter-paramedics checked the surfer on the beach. He did not need medical attention and was released.
The department later added, "Thanks to the quick thinking friend, our dedicated SBC Fire teams and the life-saving drone technology."
A beach with traps in the water
Haskell's Beach is considered a beginner-friendly spot, though some describe it as a mediocre beach break.
On the evening of the rescue, the surf was strong enough to knock the surfer off his board and carry him out to sea.
The buoy he grabbed was attached to a lobster trap. Traps are regulated in the area.
Commercial operations require permits and tagged gear, while recreational lobster harvesting is limited to hand capture or hoop nets.
A 2021 survey by the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper Watershed Brigade counted 44 lobster traps along the stretch of coast between Haskell's and nearby Ellwood Beach.
Volunteers have been working to remove derelict traps because they pose hazards to beachgoers and wildlife.
In this case, one of those buoys may have kept a surfer from drifting farther offshore.
Ocean safety always comes first
Fire officials used the rescue as a warning to others heading into the water.
"Never go into the ocean alone - especially in rough conditions. It can save lives," the department said.
The advice reflects the reality of surf safety. California recorded 3,631 fatal unintentional drownings between 2016 and 2023, according to state public health data.
The National Weather Service reported 99 surf-related deaths in 2025, nine of them in California.
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