Laguna Beach surfer Jacob Trette was rescued from the water at Maverick’s on Saturday morning after being caught inside by a rogue set. According to SFGate.com, Trette was found unconscious, face-down in the water by a kayaker and rescued soon after by surf photographer Russell Ord. According to reports, Ord was the only person in the lineup using a personal watercraft due to a regional ban on PWC’s by NOAA in surf conditions under 20 feet.
Don Montgomery, a veteran Maverick’s photographer, told Surfline.com that looser PWC regulations might have expedited the ocean rescue. “They won’t allow boats out there unless it’s 20-foot,” Montgomery told Surfline. “And today was 12- to 15-foot, but this one giant set came in…if boats were out there, that kid could’ve been saved quicker.”
Trette was transported via helicopter to Stanford Medical Center, and according to reports by the Associated Press, his condition has improved. After entering care in critical condition, the medical staff now reports that he is conscious, with stable vital signs.
News organization KTVU has acquired footage documenting the episode – including the rogue set as well as Jacob Trette’s rescue.
Update: After three days in the hospital, Jacob Trette was released from Stanford Medical Center and is expected to fully recover from his horrific wipe out.
The Pacific’s heightened winter swell activity has made for dangerous seas as just last week 58-year-old surfer David Alan Kim drowned while surfing at Beacons in Encinitas, California.
