Coast Guard Rescues Missing Surfer in Puerto Rico

On January 9, a 68-year-old man was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after being missing for over 30 hours while surfing near Surfers Beach in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

The crew from an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, based at Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, found the man in stable condition and transported him to emergency medical services waiting at the airbase. This information was shared in a press release following the incident. The search began after the man’s Airbnb host reported he hadn’t returned and his daughter confirmed he had gone surfing at noon on Thursday, leading to concerns about his whereabouts.

Upon hearing he was missing, the Coast Guard activated a distress phase and broadcasted an emergency marine notification. They initiated a search operation along the coastline and offshore. In addition, local police, the Joint Rapid Action Unit (FURA), U.S. Border Patrol, and emergency responders participated in the search efforts.

During their search, the helicopter crew spotted a man resembling the missing surfer, who was trying to signal for help. Due to challenging sea conditions and nearby rocks and coral reefs, the helicopter crew conducted a careful hoisting operation to safely bring him aboard. He had been missing for quite a while by then.

Capt. Robert Stiles from the Coast Guard San Juan Division described the operation as a “great outcome.” He noted, “What an amazing result. After realizing more than 24 hours had passed since we received the report, we launched a collaborative search and rescue effort.” He emphasized the professional teamwork displayed by all agencies involved.

He expressed relief at the successful outcome, mentioning the importance of safety for anyone entering the ocean and advising mariners to have a planned approach while communicating their intentions to others.

Footage shared by the Coast Guard Southeast District captured the moment of the rescue. Stiles remarked to the man’s daughter, “He’s definitely dehydrated… but he’s a good conversationalist. We’ll have paramedics check on him.” The daughter expressed her immense gratitude upon hearing the news of her father’s rescue.

The Coast Guard has not disclosed the identity of the rescued surfer and did not reply to requests for additional comments.