Surfers Rescue 6 After Boat Capsizes Off Santa Cruz

Droves of surfers sprang into action to pull injured people from the water after a small motor boat collided with a wave.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A small motor boat collided with a wave off the coast of Santa Cruz, California, throwing two adults and four children into the water. Nearby surfers, including a three-time winner of the Mavericks big wave competition, quickly paddled over and pulled the injured people onto their surfboards until emergency crews arrived.

Why it matters

The quick actions of the surfers in Santa Cruz highlight the importance of community and teamwork in emergency situations. Their willingness to risk their own safety to rescue strangers demonstrates the positive impact that can come from people coming together to help one another.

The details

The incident occurred last Friday at Steamer Lane, a famous surfing spot along California's Central Coast. Witnesses said the small motor boat was moving at a high speed when it collided with a wave, throwing the two adults and four children who were on board into the water. While the children were wearing life jackets, the adults were not. Around 10 surfers, including some as young as 14 years old, paddled over and pulled the injured people onto their surfboards until harbor patrol boats and ambulances arrived on the scene.

  • The incident occurred last Friday at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, California.
  • Harbor patrol boats and ambulances arrived within minutes of the surfers rescuing the passengers.

The players

Darryl "Flea" Virostko

A three-time winner of the Mavericks big wave competition who helped pull an adult man onto his surfboard.

Ian Anderson

A 14-year-old surfer who put a young boy on his surfboard during the rescue.

Vince Tuzzi

A witness who was filming the surfers when the boat capsized and saw the dramatic rescue unfold.

Rob Oatey

The fire chief who met with some of the surfers this week to thank them for their bravery.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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 (newser.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 fire chief plans to formally recognize the surfers for their heroic actions in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This incident demonstrates the power of community and the willingness of everyday people to put themselves at risk to help others in an emergency. The quick thinking and bravery of the Santa Cruz surfers likely saved multiple lives and serves as an inspiring example of the good that can come when people come together.