A beach walk turns into a rescue mission
Benita Karo, a 39-year-old celebrity publicist from Carlsbad, was just trying to enjoy a quiet morning coffee in Oceanside on September 26. She was prepping for her daughter’s 14th birthday party when she stopped to film the intense, hurricane-driven surf hitting the coast. That’s when the vibes took a serious turn. Karo watched as an massive wave blindsided a local surfer, slamming him directly into the rocks.
Life-saving instincts
When the surfer didn’t resurface, Karo realized the plot was thickening in the worst way. She saw him floating face-down and unconscious. Real talk: she didn't hesitate. Fully clothed, she dove into the churning water to reach him. “I sat there with him, holding him, just trying to keep his head above water,” Karo said.
It was a chaotic scene, but eventually, another surfer and some people from a nearby beach house helped pull the injured man to safety. Emergency crews arrived shortly after to take over, rushing him away on a gurney. Karo, who worked as a lifeguard when she was 15, ended up with some scrapes and injuries to her face, back, and toe during the rescue. She noted that unlike her old water park job, you can’t just turn off the ocean waves when things go south.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the dangerous conditions caused by Hurricane Polo, which has been sending massive, unpredictable surf toward the Pacific Coast. As the Category 3 storm barrels toward Baja California, officials are warning everyone to stay clear of the water—these aren't your average beach day waves, and the current situation is lowkey terrifying.
