Man crying for help from ocean rescued thanks to nearby residents, CA officials say

A man was pulled from the ocean near the coast in San Diego after residents heard his cries for help coming from the water.

Authorities received reports from residents at around 2:40 a.m. on Nov. 12, saying that there was yelling coming from the Sunset Cliffs area, Fox 5 reported. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a panga boat that they believe flipped over in the water, a spokesperson from the San Diego Police Department told Fox 5.

Emergency responders, including San Diego police, lifeguards, the U.S. Coast Guard, and agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection all arrived at the scene, NBC San Diego reported.

Authorities also deployed a rescue helicopter and spent several hours searching the area for other people who may have been in the overturned boat, KGTV reported.

The helicopter spotted a man struggling to stay afloat about half a mile from the shore. Responders rescued the man, and paramedics took him to a nearby hospital. Fire officials said the man had hypothermia but was alert and breathing, KGTV reported.

The man told responders from the U.S. Coast Guard that he had dropped off several people at the shore, and that when he got back into the water, his boat stalled. He jumped in the ocean and tried to swim to shore, but was struggling and had to cry out for help, Fox 5 reported.

The man may have been in the water for half an hour before he was rescued. Lifeguards believe the boat was stalled by engine issues and do not believe anyone else is in the water, NBC San Diego reported.

Border Patrol and the United States Coast Guard are investigating the incident, Fox 5 reported.

This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Man crying for help from ocean rescued thanks to nearby residents, CA officials say."