State Park Supervising Ranger

Department of Parks and Recreation

4/6/1996

Special Act Award (Gold)

On April 6, 1996, State Park Supervising Ranger Michael Stephenson and State Park Lifeguard Timothy Murphy, both off duty, responded separately to a report of a surfer stranded on a rock and waving for help at Sonoma State Beach. Upon arrival, Ranger Stephenson was able to get a glimpse of the stranded man just before darkness set in. The extremely strong surf, fog, and darkness precluded the use of paddleboards, boats or helicopters: the rescue could only be accomplished by swimming out to the victim in the 50 degree water. Ranger Stephenson and Lifeguard Murphy put on their swim fins and surfing style wetsuits which would keep them warm for only about 20 minutes and swam the half mile to the victim. Despite total darkness and strong currents, the rescuers were able to get the man safely off the rock. Because the prevailing current was carrying them toward a prominent rock outcropping being pounded by heavy waves, the rescuers, in total darkness, had to tow the man to shore against the current using a rescue buoy. After forty minutes, they reached the point just seaward of the pounding surf. A light powered by a generator guided them to the general direction of the shore, however upon arriving on shore, the light suddenly went out. At this point all three were picked up and crushed by a twelve foot wave, causing Ranger Stephenson and Lifeguard Murphy to lose contact with the victim. Lifeguard Murphy was able to quickly grab the victim and get him to safely on shore; Ranger Stephenson however, was sucked back into the water and struck repeatedly by large waves before making it to the beach. The rescuers had been in the ocean for approximately two and half hours. Once safely on shore, the rescuers and the surfer were examined by paramedics and released.