Lifeguards and surfers teamed up to save more than a dozen people after their boat capsized

Lifeguards and surfers teamed up in Ocean Beach to save over a dozen people after a suspected smuggling boat capsized near Saratoga Avenue.

According to Lifeguard Lt. Rick Romero, a 25-foot cabin cruiser flipped after being struck by a wave around 7:40 a.m. Surfers jumped into action first, using their boards to assist people in the water, while lifeguards arrived moments later to perform multiple rescues.

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Lifeguards broke cabin windows to free two people trapped inside, and one unconscious individual was revived with CPR but later died at the hospital. Others were pulled from the water using rescue boats and paddle boards, while two more were saved from a nearby jetty.

Nine people were hospitalized, but the total number of passengers—estimated at 10-15 remains unclear. Some made it to shore on their own, while others walked away before federal authorities could arrive.