Woman Bravely Rescues Surfer from Turbulent Waters in San Diego
October 6, 2026
During a stroll along a North County San Diego beach, a woman noticed a surfer caught by a massive wave and thrown into the rocks. Without hesitation, she risked her own safety to help him.
Benita Karo / Credit: Inside Edition
Benita Karo was capturing footage of the powerful surf when she became aware of a surfer attempting to return to shore. As she watched, a large wave approached.
“He doesn’t see it. It’s massive, and it just hits him,” Karo shared with the California Post.
The violent impact against the rocks prompted Karo to scan the surface for any signs of the man. When she realized he wasn’t resurfacing, she grew concerned.
Upon moving closer, Karo discovered the surfer was floating face down, unconscious.
“He was knocked out,” she recounted.
Reacting instinctively, she entered the treacherous waters fully clothed to assist the incapacitated surfer. Amid the relentless waves, she managed to keep his head above water.
“I sat there with him, holding him, just trying to keep his head above water,” she explained.
Help soon arrived when another surfer noticed the struggle. Several people from a nearby beach house also rushed to assist, and together, they successfully brought the injured surfer to safety on the shore.
Emergency services responded quickly, transporting the man to the hospital. Karo sustained minor injuries during the rescue.
The surfer, known as Bob, a veteran with 50 years of surfing experience, has since reunited with Karo in the hospital and is on the mend.
In his gratitude, Bob described Karo as a “heroic girl.”
His wife, Mary, added a heartfelt sentiment, calling Karo “an angel, just an absolute angel.”
