At one popular beach in San Francisco, rescue swimmers braved churning waves and strong currents to save two surfers who had challenged nature to a duel — and lost.
, including to Santa Cruz Harbor, where a parking lot and streets flooded. But it was a busy day for some first responders in the Bay Area.
The San Francisco Fire Department also helped more than two dozen beach-goers who had waded into knee-deep water or less but were in potentially dangerous positions, Baxter said. At San Gregorio Beach in San Mateo County, first responders from the Cal Fire CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit rescued two people after they were swept into the water while fishing Saturday afternoon, said Cecile Juliette, a unit spokesperson. Both anglers were taken to the hospital — one by helicopter and the other via ground transportation — and were in stable condition.
“They were able to get back on the rock and it was better for them to walk down the jetty to get back to the beach than for them to get back in the water to be rescued” by the harbor patrol, Juliette said.