Dramatic footage released by the U.S. Coast Guard shows the moment guardsmen hoisted a surfer out of a boat and into a helicopter after he was bitten by a shark in a “truly terrifying” attack.
A 37-year-old man, who has not yet been identified, was surfing with a friend off the coast of California near Santa Rosa Island on Saturday when a shark bit him on the leg around 3:15 p.m. Luckily, the friend, who was aboard a nearby boat, applied a tourniquet to the man’s leg and called the authorities for assistance.
About an hour later, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew arrived and rescued the man. Video shared by the USCG Los Angeles shows the man wearing a full-body wetsuit, being hoisted out of the boat, and up into the helicopter. A white tourniquet is visible around his leg.
Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Station San Francisco FOB Mugu medevacs shark bite victim to saftey and transports him to Santa Barbara Airport where EMTs awaited. pic.twitter.com/zyDewiQWpU
— USCG Los Angeles (@USCGLosAngeles) December 22, 2019
The Coast Guard then transported the man to a local hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition as of Saturday evening and expected to recover fully.
“This was the best possible outcome to a truly terrifying situation,” said Lt. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble, the Coast Guard Sector-Los Angeles Long Beach command duty officer.
“This individual was fortunate to be with a buddy who was able to communicate their position to the Coast Guard,” he added. “We are all happy that he will be able to be with his family in time for the holidays.”
