A casual jet ski excursion off the coast of Long Beach, California, turned into a 15-hour overnight survival ordeal for two friends after mechanical failures and rough open ocean conditions separated them, according to reports detailed by the New York Times and the US Coast Guard.
The Rental and Separation off Long Beach
According to the New York Times, Donna Dubray and Paul Carbullido Jr. rented two jet skis for an impromptu afternoon ride in mid-August. Neither rider had prior experience operating personal watercraft and both received only a brief orientation from the rental operator before heading out with a one-hour time limit that ultimately extended past sunset, a timeframe when operating such watercraft is prohibited in California waters. While operating outside the protected harbor area, rough seas caused Carbullido to fall from his vehicle, leaving him unable to climb back on as waves repeatedly pushed him underwater.
The Struggle for Survival and Rescue
As detailed by the US Coast Guard and reported in the New York Times, Dubray attempted to assist Carbullido, but her own watercraft subsequently failed to restart, and her cell phone drifted away on her abandoned vessel. Recognizing that Carbullido was disoriented and unable to swim effectively, Dubray swam toward shore to summon help, reaching a pier after several hours before being hospitalized for severe hypothermia. Meanwhile, strong currents dragged Carbullido further out to sea through the night. A Coast Guard helicopter spotted and rescued Carbullido after daylight, locating him several miles offshore with his core body temperature dropped to 29.5 degrees Celsius (85.1 degrees Fahrenheit). Authorities noted that his survival through the freezing night was aided by his life jacket and relatively mild ocean water temperatures.
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