United States Coast Guard Worked with Local Agencies to Rescue a Man and Woman from a Jet Ski Accident

On August 16, 53-year-old Paul Carbullido Jr. went out for a nighttime jet ski ride with a coworker off Long Beach, California, three miles south of the Seal Beach Pier. Soon after heading out into the bay, he was knocked off his vessel by a wave and into the water. His coworker attempted to help him back onto his watercraft, but they were unsuccessful.  

"She jumped off her jet ski,” Carbullido said in an interview with ABC. “Her jet ski, I remember, was just going. And then she came to where I was at, and she was like, 'Come on!' And I was trying to tell her, 'I need to catch my breath. I need to catch my breath.' Because I didn't even know what hit me." 

Realizing she needed help to rescue Carbullido, the woman swam for an hour, eventually reaching a break wall. She was noticed by a helpful bystander who reported her situation to Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach watch standers at 10:19 p.m. that night. 

Long Beach Lifeguards Rescue Boat 1 responded and rescued Carbullido’s coworker, transferring her to emergency medical services on shore. She reported that Carbullido was still stranded in open water. 

The Coast Guard and other first responder agencies searched overnight for 12 hours before finding Carbullido the next morning at 10:48 a.m. His life jacket had kept him afloat the entire time crews were out searching. 

“This incident highlights the importance of wearing a life jacket at all times when on the water,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Caprioli, search and rescue mission coordinator, Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach. “It is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself.” 

A Coast Guard Air Station San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew found Carbullido floating on his back in the water; alive and conscious. 

He waved his arms when he noticed the aircraft, and the MH-60 aircrew got to work. They hauled him up in a rescue basket with the help of a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in the water, taking note of his condition. They determined he showed signs of hypothermia and quickly got him to safety, transferring him to emergency medical personnel for treatment. 

Carbullido and his coworker are alive today thanks to the quick action of the Coast Guard and the many local agencies that assisted in their rescue and treatment. According to the Coast Guard, the following agencies teamed up in the effort: 

• Coast Guard Air Station Ventura Jayhawk helicopter aircrew 
• Coast Guard Air Station San Diego Jayhawk helicopter aircrew 
• Two Coast Guard Station Los Angeles-Long Beach 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crews 
• Crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal 
• Long Beach Fire Department Marine Safety Division 
• Los Angeles County Fire Department Baywatch Cabrillo 
• Long Beach Police Department 
• Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol 

Carbullido reflected on his experience, saying, “I’ve got a purpose in this life.” He made the decision to visit his church to find out just what that purpose is.  

Watch the full story as covered by ABC Channel 7. 

Title image: A Coast Guard Air Station San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew rescues a 53-year-old man approximately 3 miles south of Seal Beach Pier, California, Aug. 17, 2026. Long Beach Fire Department courtesy photo.