Harbor District, State Parks Lifeguard Awarded for Coastal Cave Rescue

The California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains at their annual meeting last week awarded the 2013 Distinguished Service Award to three San Mateo County Harbor District staff and one California State Parks lifeguard for a recent rescue of two people trapped by incoming tides in a coastal cave.

It was mid-September this year that a young man and woman slipped and fell into the water at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach. The woman fell while attempting to rescue the man, but was able to get out of the water. The man however was swept into a cave and was trapped while the tide was rapidly rising.

California State Parks lifeguard Jeff Wadkins of Half Moon Bay rescued the man from the cave.

Also awarded for the rescue: San Mateo County Harbor District staff John Draper, Assistant Harbor Master, Michael Williams, Deputy Harbor Master, Cary Smith, Deputy Harbor Master, all of whom are based out of Pillar Point Harbor.

According to Harbor Master Scott Grindy, the Pillar Point Harbor team responds to an average of over 110 life-threatening calls on the water every year.

For Pillar Point Harbor, this team is the primary first responder for the San Mateo County Coastline for sinking vessels, vessels in need, and emergency response to medical conditions.

The team works also to support San Mateo County Sheriff’s Coastside team, Coast Side Fire and regularly trains with the Air Support Team of the United States Coast Guard for when they transport from harbor district vessels to the helicopter emergency response team while underway in typically bad sea conditions. 

"This responding team is a 24/7 workhorse team for the coast," said Grindy, "using both rescue vessels, and personal watercraft for surf area rescues."