Man desperately seeking surfer who saved him from drowning after breaking neck in shorebreak

"I was messing around on smaller waves, but realized smaller doesn’t mean less powerful..."

Surfers, as we all know, can be worthless but sometimes, in certain situations, surfers are lifesavers. There are many tales of surfers pulling people from the brine, resuscitating etc. and they are heartwarming and they are good.

One such incident took place, recently, at Encinitas’ Moonlight Beach. John Grace, a retired detective from Colorado, was visiting, and explains on Facebook:

I was in Encinitas to enjoy the weekend with my girlfriend, and we wanted to give surfing a shot. I was messing around on smaller waves, but realized smaller doesn’t mean less powerful. A wave shoved me to the ocean floor, where I hit my head. I broke two vertebrae in my neck, and all my limbs were useless. I was facedown, and I could not turn my body over to breathe. A nearby surfer pulled me to safety on the beach, where the rescue crews took me to the hospital. I stayed in the hospital for the weekend and I was released to fly back to Colorado on Tuesday morning…. If the man who rescued me sees this, please message me. You truly saved my life, and I want to personally thank you. I am at home in Colorado now recovering. I know I would not be alive if it weren’t for you.“

Well?

Do you know this brave hero?

Is it you?

Come and take a bow.

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ciantm
ciantm
11 months ago

It’s almost like that Coldplay concert.

justiceminister
justiceminister
11 months ago

Whoever he is pictured here has a face that could quite easily end up looking like this. Total gawp. Silly season beside, in the real world Ericeira was 18 foot today, 6 foot tomorrow and then 2 foot rest of the week. The WSL competition curse continues.

Jack English
Jack English
11 months ago

FOX 5 San Diego news was at Moonlight a few days ago filming for there episode on this. The film guy was there from early morning until sunset.

Love that this guy might not be a attention whore – do good things unnoticed!

Happy Camper
Happy Camper
11 months ago

BRAVO. well done, anonymous surfer

deeks
deeks
11 months ago

…
saves a “retired” detective…
surfers are stupid.

Jack John Johnson
Jack John Johnson
11 months ago

It’s not a safe place.

Beef & Beer
Beef & Beer
11 months ago

I know who the anonymous hero is, and so do you all.

It was one of our very own, a commenter amongst commenters, who happened to be in the area to see Chas about his BG ban, but Chas never turned up for the meeting and while checking the surf our hero saw the Colorado cop in shorebreak trouble, and saved him.

Yes it was Danes sushi and salsa sauza…

FREE DS&SS NOW !

Mike
Mike
11 months ago
Reply to  Beef & Beer

Wow you can get banned from BG… and someone would take the time to go meet up and try to get reinstated? Strange world

Brutus
Brutus
11 months ago
Reply to  Mike

there’s a bloke waiting for you at Tower 9…….

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago
Reply to  Brutus

I ain’t skerd.

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago
Reply to  Mike

This place is barnyard central. Garans 80% of the commenters haven’t surfed in years and never really sent it. Joke city especially Hippy he’s the biggest phony of them all

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago

Negs too guy guy seems a bit fem

Mike
Mike
11 months ago

Hippy’s the worst!😅

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago
Reply to  Mike

He’s a hippycrit

NEGATRON
NEGATRON
11 months ago

You’re a “send it” type commentator?

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago
Reply to  NEGATRON

Surfing wise I feel I’ve charged some good sized surf. Comment wise I rate myself in the top 5% of commenters on beachgrit regarding pro surf knowledge and history as well as analysis of the structure of the Tour.
I appreciate this site and enjoy the banter during a contest. But the majority of current commenters strike me as uneducated in pro surfing history. And they complain non stop even when things are going well ( example being the Oz leg this year had decent surf with some epic battles but most of these kooks whined nonstop).

Also would appreciate more articles about surfing and less about real estate m

Barrelled
Barrelled
11 months ago

Tooting your own surf horn has always been considered douchey and a sure sign that you don’t charge. At least in the eyes of anyone but you.

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago
Reply to  Barrelled

I won’t argue that. I felt douchey typing it.
But it was true. And I still charge in my early 60’s

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago

Unlike I would imagine 90% of the old pukes on bg

Barrelled
Barrelled
11 months ago

You did it again.

NEGATRON
NEGATRON
11 months ago

When you call out everyone, you gotta back it up. Post up a shot charger.

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago
Reply to  NEGATRON

https://uploads.disquscdn.c… Nothing major

NEGATRON
NEGATRON
11 months ago

Nice!! Solid as turn big fella ✊🏼

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago
Reply to  NEGATRON

Thanks Negs

deeks
deeks
11 months ago

Haha charging……..30%

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago
Reply to  deeks

Don’t have many pics of myself. Sunset Beach breaks about 3/4 of a mile out to sea not many instagram filmers around there in the 80’s/90’s

NEGATRON
NEGATRON
11 months ago
Reply to  deeks

You’re up deeks.

deeks
deeks
11 months ago
Reply to  NEGATRON

https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
I’m on the left

deeks
deeks
11 months ago
Reply to  deeks

https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Alright Alright

NEGATRON
NEGATRON
11 months ago
Reply to  deeks

I don’t believe anyones that skinny here.

deeks
deeks
11 months ago
Reply to  NEGATRON

https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Well you’d be negawrong

NEGATRON
NEGATRON
11 months ago
Reply to  deeks

You have the posture of a barrel dodging Frenchman. Close?

deeks
deeks
11 months ago
Reply to  NEGATRON

HawHawh wee wee

NEGATRON
NEGATRON
11 months ago
Reply to  deeks

I only just got that joke.

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago
Reply to  NEGATRON

Me too.

Barrelled
Barrelled
11 months ago
Reply to  deeks

That’s about right. Charging at 6’.

Gwen Walz’s Eyes
Gwen Walz’s Eyes
11 months ago
Reply to  NEGATRON
Mike
Mike
11 months ago
Reply to  Beef & Beer

What was the crime?

NEGATRON
NEGATRON
11 months ago
Reply to  Mike

No crime. It was for his own mental wellbeing. Hopefully he’s found a more productive way to spend his days than posting 20 non-related comments on every story here.

Jack John Johnson
Jack John Johnson
11 months ago
Reply to  NEGATRON

How bout’ them Dodgers?

Happy Camper
Happy Camper
11 months ago

GO BLUE!!!

Jack John Johnson
Jack John Johnson
11 months ago
Reply to  Happy Camper

He pitches. He hits. He steals bases. Plus, his ex-translator skims millions and is in jail?

Also, Freddie Freeman and Koa Smith share the same dentist.

Whitefolkswithdreadsarefunny
Whitefolkswithdreadsarefunny
11 months ago

Any mortal man would dream of having such pearly white veneers. Freddie is almost always MVP adjacent and has the second greatest Dodger homer ever!

Skippy
Skippy
11 months ago
Reply to  NEGATRON

i found them refreshing yet disturbing

Barnycle
Barnycle
11 months ago
Reply to  NEGATRON

He’s the only person I ever blocked. There are 4 people here who I just skip by their comments but I won’t block them.

Thank you for helping that nut case by keeping him away from here.

Barnycle
Barnycle
11 months ago

I’ve realised recently that, amongst experienced surfers, more of us have probably saved a life than not.

Both times i “saved” a person I did not see the danger and did not think the person was in danger. I was called to help them from drowning.

The second time it was just wading out in chest high water in rough surf to grab a person clinging to a rock, with 5 of their friends watching on helplessly .

Barnycle
Barnycle
11 months ago
Reply to  Barnycle

What are the odds. Just opened up the newspaper and a man just got a national award at our annual government honours day for saving 3 people at the same beach that I mentioned above. Good for him. No lifeguards in the countryside.


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