Surfers Rescue 6 After Boat Capsizes Off Santa Cruz

Heroic surfers pull injured passengers from the water until emergency crews arrive.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A group of surfers in Santa Cruz, California sprang into action to rescue six people, including four children, after their small motor boat collided with a wave and capsized. Several of the passengers were not wearing life jackets when the boat went down, but the surfers, some as young as 14 years old, quickly swam over and pulled the injured people onto their boards until emergency responders could arrive.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the importance of water safety and the heroic actions of the local surfing community in Santa Cruz, who were able to quickly respond and save lives when a boating accident occurred. It also underscores the risks associated with operating small boats in rough ocean conditions.

The details

According to an incident report, the small motor boat was traveling at a high rate of speed when it collided with a large wave at Steamer Lane, a famous surfing spot along California's Central Coast. The impact threw two adults and four children into the water, with several passengers not wearing life jackets. Nearby surfers, including three-time Mavericks big wave competition winner Darryl 'Flea' Virostko, immediately paddled over and pulled the injured people onto their boards until emergency crews could arrive and transport them to the hospital.

  • The boat capsized on February 6, 2026.
  • The surfers rescued the passengers shortly after the boat went down.

The players

Darryl 'Flea' Virostko

A three-time winner of the Mavericks big wave competition, Virostko was among the surfers who responded to the capsized boat and pulled an adult man onto his board.

Vince Tuzzi

A local surfer who was filming the waves when the boat capsized and witnessed the rescue efforts.

Santa Cruz Fire Department

The fire department responded to the incident and transported the injured passengers to the hospital.

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What they’re saying

“I basically live at that beach — I'm there almost every day — and that's one of the craziest things I've seen.”

— Vince Tuzzi (seattlepi.com)

“I knew they went down and it was time to paddle in as quickly as possible. Man it feels good to have a surfing community go into action together as one team.”

— Darryl 'Flea' Virostko (Instagram)

What’s next

The Santa Cruz Fire Department is investigating the cause of the boat collision and will work to ensure proper safety protocols are in place for small watercraft in the area.

The takeaway

The heroic actions of the Santa Cruz surfing community in rescuing the passengers from the capsized boat highlight the importance of water safety and the value of having a tight-knit group of locals who are willing to spring into action to help those in need. This incident serves as a reminder that being prepared and having a community that looks out for one another can make all the difference in an emergency situation.