SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A group of surfers is being credited with saving another surfer's life, rescuing him from a San Francisco beach.
ABC7 News was at Fort Point near the Presidio where it happened Sunday afternoon.
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Witnesses say the surfer was riding a six to eight-foot wave when he gained too much speed and crashed head first into a rock. Another surfer at the scene, who is also an EMT, rushed to perform CPR on him after another group pulled him from the water.
"Looks like he had a gash on his head, so he probably hit the rock and became unconscious. Someone was obviously calling 911 and we were just pumping on him 30 to 2 trying to get his impressions in and the airway," said Kevin Smallwood.
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The San Francisco Fire Department says that the quick action of the surfers may have changed the outcome of the rescue. "The CPR being administered right away is really a positive thing, and under incredibly adverse conditions. Substantial swell out there, whitewater, rocks. These gentlemen all did a wonderful, a great thing tonight," said Battalion Chief Mike Maloney.
The victim is in critical condition. A witness says he was wearing a helmet when he crashed.