Surf hazard — third rescue in 24 hours at S.F. beaches

A surfer was rescued from the waves at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach on Friday afternoon before being rushed to the hospital in critical condition, authorities said.

The San Francisco Fire Department responded to the incident shortly after 12:30 p.m., and a public alert was issued for people to avoid a 4-mile stretch of Ocean Beach in the area between Cliff House and Sloat Boulevard.

Emergency responders performed CPR on the surfer before he was taken to UCSF Medical Center, said Jonathan Baxter, a Fire Department spokesman. After multiple attempts at reviving the man, officials transported him in critical

condition to the hospital’s trauma center.

Friday’s incident was the third surf rescue the Fire Department reported in the past 24 hours.

On Thursday, officials responded to a swimmer in distress at Fort Point around 3:15 p.m. A few hours later, another report came in for a surfer needing help at Ocean Beach near Lawton Street. Both survived.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous waves advisory for beachgoers Thursday afternoon into Friday morning. Officials warned that unsuspecting swimmers could be swept out to sea.

Waves swelled to 10 feet on Thursday and Friday, officials said, but forecasters expect milder waves this weekend measuring 4 to 5 feet.