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BACK TO LIFE
San Diego surfer rescued from near-death drowning at Black's
By:
Marcus Sanders
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Last Wednesday, local charger Chris Ryan took off
on an eight-foot right closeout at Blacks, pulled in and traveled for a while. The 49-year-old Pacific Beach goofyfoot has plenty of experience with heavy barrels, but he didn't surface from the wipeout and was held under for a second wave and went unconscious.
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Duhaime held Ryan's head above water and shouted for help. Dylan Jones, an off-duty LA lifeguard caught a wave to the inside where the two were floating and helped 'em to shore. They were all joined on the beach by off-duty doctor Mark Bracker (pro surfer Ryan Bracker's dad). Local surfer Jon Sundt also caught a wave in and explains what happened next: "Mark started the CPR on his chest while Dylan breathed into his lungs," Sundt said. "Chris was gone, and unresponsive. His pupils were dilated and water was coming out of his nose and mouth. His teeth were clenched and I thought he was too far-gone. Mark and Dylan kept at it for about three-four minutes and they brought him back. He started to breathe and his eyes became less dilated. By the time the paramedics arrived 15 minutes later, he was talking. He was not breathing with no heartbeat facedown in the water -- and twenty minutes later he was talking. After he was taken away, several of us paddled back out. We told Bracker and Dylan they get all the waves they want for the rest of their lives." "He was not breathing with no heartbeat facedown in the water -- and twenty minutes later he was talking. "
local surfer Jon Sundt on Ryan's rescue
As of Sunday, Ryan had little memory of the event but is recovering. "Unfortunately, the entire wave and wipeout are a memory blank," he told Surfline. "Either from being dead for several minutes or from the drugs in the hospital or both, my memory is erased back to before the wave at around 7:30am until around 8pm that night. I did have a tender spot right side of my head above my ear. It felt like it might have been that I got hit by my board, or hit the bottom. But I have no memory yet of whether any of that did happen. The hospital did CT or CAT scan of my brain and said they saw no evidence of brain injury." As far as conditions go, it was a big but fairly unremarkable wave that morning. "It was a closed-out day with occasional makeable waves," Ryan explained. "I know I had gotten about three lefts that closed out and I had pulled into those and rode as long as possible. No big deal. I guess on the right something went wrong. But I don't know what." Of course Ryan's deeply grateful to the three guys who saved his life. He invited them to a Saturday BBQ (for his father's birthday) where they shared the story of what happened. "It was kind of weird for me," Ryan explained. "It was like hearing a story about somebody else. Very strange." Jon Sundt points out the bottom line: "These guys were heroes and CPR saved his life." MORE SURF NEWS SURFLINE HOME PAGE |
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Comments: (63) Add Your Comment
O 03/24/2010 02:44 PM
Good job to the guys who helped out! You never know when you might find yourself in the same situation, so always look out for your fellow surfers. Keep ripping and watch those heavy close outs!
03/23/2010 04:06 PM
Art, Lifeguards were cut from that beach as of Jan 1, 2010. Both incidents you are reffering to happend when Lifeguards were not on duty. The Lifeguards that were at Blacks did work out every day; that's why they are able to perform their duties. It is incorrect to say that "surfers made all of the rescues at Blacks". Although they often do, becuase surfers look out for eachother. If that beach was staffed, injured people would receive the benifit of a rolling first aid toolbox. Oxygen, AED, etc
Laure Goebel 03/22/2010 11:56 AM
Dylan and all the others involved in this rescue are true heros. I know the next time I see Dylan and I give him a big hug and tell him how proud I am of him he will shrug it off and say it's what I do, but that's just Dylan. He is a gentle humble waterman who loves to surf everyday he's not on duty on the baywatch boats or the beach. He is my hero, and my nephew, His family loves him and is very proud of him everyday. Aunt Laure
brian martin 03/19/2010 01:11 PM
these guys deserve a huge pat on the back...not just for saving a fallen comrade, but for just helping another human stay alive, and able to surf another day. The world needs more poeple like that. Nice job!
Joey bear 03/18/2010 12:32 PM
I love hearing stories of ppl putting other ppl first. Those surfers were brave and I applaud their couragous and heroic acts . Way to go. Be good to one another out there
Roy 03/17/2010 01:00 PM
Blacks gets BIG, REALLY BIG, due to the deepwater canyon. The biggest conditions I have ever experienced was at Blacks. No beginning surfers should try to paddle out, even if you are good you need to be in shape, have knowledge, be respectful of surfers around you, BE AWARE! The only way you are going to die is if you get knocked out, so wear a helmet when conditions call for it kook.
Juri Koll 03/15/2010 05:44 PM
I surfed Blacks every day for a couple of years (1979-81) and was on the UCSD surf team. I've surfed it many times since then. I've seen it very heavy. I'm so stoked there was someone there to help Chris. He happens to be my age...wow...much respect for all involved. Keep surfing. Peace.
Christi Cramer Celaya 03/13/2010 03:34 PM
Thank God he's alright. I nearly drowned at Black's on a 12-15 ft day back in 1970. I had Angels-so did Ryan. I agree that all surfers should know CPR. You can easily save someone's life instead of watching one slip helplessly away.
kong carne 03/12/2010 07:49 PM
true blue good people great story! good luck to all...
Christopher D 03/11/2010 09:07 PM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name
If you blog or run a site you should use this article to promote CPR in your community. Another prime example of how important it is to get certified! www.surfmtl.com
markfitzy 03/10/2010 04:04 PM
God Bless Mark, Ryan and Phillipe. You showed courage, hope and you saved the life of a fellow wave rider. For that, you should be proud.
Not in Wheelchair 03/10/2010 01:35 PM
I'm glad this story involves so much benevolence, as oftentimes, surf injury stories involve malice & greed. I suffered a broken neck when, after being dropped-in on, the guy proceeded to pull a 360 on the lip above me. In the ensuing calamity, I landed on my head in 18" of water. Could have died right there, but a bather saw that I was in trouble and helped me out. Fortunately, I am not in a wheel chair. The only long-term symptom is numbness in my left hand. Think before you drop in!
George Snyder 03/10/2010 11:48 AM
Way to go Chris! We have all been in conditions like the one you experienced and are very lucky that it just wasn't our time to go. You take care and don't let a bad experience keep you from enjoying your life as a great surfer. Codos to your surfing rescue brothers...they are so cool!
From a 60 year old surfer who has had plenty of wipe outs!
George Snyder
AB 03/10/2010 09:20 AM
Lifeguards down at Blacks are completely usless..they show up around 10 am..leave before dark and you'll be dead long before they ever swim out and rescue you..Ive been down there for both drownings this year. The surfers in the water were aware of whats going on and responded to both incidents appropriately. In the cities current fiscal situation, money shouldnt be spent for a crew of lifeguards to buzz around on their waverunner, dune buggies, and post up at the beach and surf all day
Surf Prevention 03/10/2010 02:11 AM
View All Comments (63 comments)
"I did have a tender spot right side of my head above my ear. It felt like it might have been that I got hit by my board, or hit the bottom."
It's always the same story with surfing accidents : head injury - loss of consciousness - drowning.
Surfers should seriously consider wearing a helmet...
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