A 68-year-old surfer is alive after spending more than a day stranded on coastal rocks in Puerto Rico and being dramatically plucked from the spot by a Coast Guard helicopter. The man went out alone near Surfer's Beach in Aguadilla around noon Thursday, according to his daughter, and disappeared, CBS News reports. When he failed to return to his Airbnb for more than 24 hours, the host reported him missing Friday evening, triggering a large land-and-sea search involving the Coast Guard, Puerto Rico police, US Border Patrol, a specialized local maritime unit, and other emergency crews.
A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter launched from Air Station Borinquen swept the shoreline north of Aguadilla on Friday and eventually spotted the missing man. Video released by the Coast Guard shows him stranded on a reef, standing beside his board, and signaling to the aircraft from a spot officials said was unreachable by foot or boat because of rocks, reefs, and rough water.
Rescuers hoisted him into the helicopter; he was described as dehydrated but awake and talking after the 30-hour ordeal. The Coast Guard later released audio of the call in which Capt. Robert Stiles told the family the surfer was "alive and well," prompting tearful thanks on the other end of the line. In a statement, Stiles urged people heading into the water to share their plans with someone and use proper safety gear.
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
