SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard and local partner agencies rescued a 53-year-old man approximately 3 miles south of the Seal Beach Pier Monday morning after an extensive search effort that lasted more than 12 hours.
A Coast Guard Air Station San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew located Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr. alive at approximately 10:48 a.m., while conducting a search pattern south of Seal Beach. The aircrew spotted Carbullido floating on his back while wearing a green life jacket. After recognizing the helicopter overhead, Carbullido raised his head and waved to the aircrew.
The aircrew hoisted Carbullido, who was exhibiting signs of hypothermia, and transported him to Long Beach Airport. He was transferred to emergency medical personnel with the Long Beach Fire Department.
Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach watchstanders received a report from a good Samaritan at approximately 10:19 p.m., Sunday of a woman stranded on the Long Beach breakwall.
Long Beach Lifeguards Rescue Boat 1 responded and rescued the woman, transferring her to emergency medical services on shore.
The woman reported that she and Carbullido had rented two personal watercraft and departed from Rainbow Harbor earlier that evening. While operating the watercraft outside the breakwall, Carbullido fell into the water.
The woman entered the water from her watercraft in an attempt to assist Carbullido but was unsuccessful. She then attempted to reboard her watercraft and start the engine but was unable to do so. The woman re-entered the water and swam for approximately an hour before reaching the breakwall.
Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and deployed multiple rescue assets to search for Carbullido. Coast Guard aircrews located both unmanned, drifting personal watercraft Monday morning before locating Carbullido.
Multiple agencies participated in the search and rescue effort, including:
- Coast Guard Air Station Ventura Jayhawk helicopter aircrew
- Coast Guard Air Station San Diego Jayhawk helicopter aircrew
- Two Coast Guard Station Los Angeles-Long Beach 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crews
- Crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal
- Long Beach Fire Department Marine Safety Division
- Los Angeles County Fire Department Baywatch Cabrillo
- Long Beach Police Department
- Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol
“This incident highlights the importance of wearing a life jacket at all times when on the water,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Caprioli, search and rescue mission coordinator, Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach. “It is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself.”