Kitesurfers Rescued from San Francisco Bay

Two distressed kitesurfers were pulled from San Francisco Bay waters by two good Samaritans this afternoon, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.

Shortly after 5 p.m., the Coast Guard received several reports of an unmanned kite in the waters just south of the Hayward-San Mateo Bridge, Petty Officer David Muentes said.

Coast Guard personnel did not find a person near the kite but determined from interviews and from the search that a man had made it ashore with the help of a good Samaritan, he said.

Two hours later, the Coast Guard received a second call of a downed kitesurfer, this time just off the shores of San Francisco.

A call at 7:02 p.m. reported a female kitesurfer in the waters near the Golden Gate Yacht Club, Muentes said. A good Samaritan picked up the distressed surfer and, as of 7:15 p.m., was bringing her ashore.

Although the Coast Guard dispatched rescue vessels to the yacht club area from its Golden Gate Station, the assistance of the Coast Guard was not required because of the civilian rescue, Muentes said.

The nature of the kitesurfers' injuries was unknown because the Coast Guard was not involved in the evaluation of either victim, he said.

-- Bay City News

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