Two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies heroically saved two paragliders from a potentially fatal situation on Friday. The incident occurred when the paragliders plunged into the foggy ocean waters near Malibu.
Footage captured by a body camera provided a dramatic view of the deputies’ swift response to the distress call. Authorities can be heard urging the paragliders to “Hang on!” as the deputies raced to the scene.
According to a statement from the sheriff’s department shared with Fox News Digital, Deputies Matkin and Grigoryan acted quickly and decisively. “Without hesitation and fully aware of the danger, they removed their department-issued gear and jumped into the water,” the statement noted.
The courageous deputies swam approximately 75 feet to reach the stranded man and woman. The paragliders’ feet were ensnared by their heavy safety equipment, which was dragging them down. The deputies managed to cut them free using their knives.
Deputy Christopher Matkin described the rescue operation as “tense,” highlighting the challenge they faced as the frantic paragliders, in their panic, inadvertently pulled the deputies beneath the water.
Deputy Christopher Matkin called the rescue “tense,” explaining that the frantic paragliders kept pulling them under in their panic.
“We were able to calm them down,” he added at a press conference.
Deputy Sevak Grigoryan said that they didn’t have much time to think.
LA County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Sevak Grigoryan discusses the rescue he and a fellow officer made off a beach in Malibu. (FOX 11)
“It was just, ‘We gotta act and we gotta to act now,” he said.
The department said the paragliders’ ill-fated trip likely happened as they descended and ran into the ocean’s fog bank.
“And that’s where it appears they became disoriented and crashed into the ocean,” a third deputy said.
Deputy Christopher Matkin called the rescue “tense.” (FOX 11)
Both paragliders are expected to fully recover.
“This rescue demonstrates the courage, quick thinking, and selfless dedication of LASD deputies, who routinely place themselves in harm’s way to protect and save lives,” the department said.
“Deputies Matkin and Grigoryan’s decisive actions under dangerous conditions exemplify the Sheriff’s Department’s commitment to public safety and service to the community.”
