A man who was thrown from his jet ski and spent 12 terrifying hours drifting in darkness off the Long Beach coast is now recounting the ordeal that nearly claimed his life.
Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr., 53, said he and his roommate were enjoying a sunset ride Sunday evening when a wave knocked both of them off their jet skis.
His roommate, Donna Durbay, was pushed toward the break wall, but Carbullido vanished into the open water.
Although Carbullido was wearing a life jacket, he said he could not swim, leaving him helpless as the current carried him through the night.
“I was there all night, like just, just thinking of the worst,” he told NBC LA. “I didn’t know which direction to go because it was real dark, you know? And I was just paddling, paddling.”
Durbay said neither of them had much experience operating jet skis. After she managed to make it back to her watercraft, she couldn’t get it started. She called the rental company in a panic and told them, “My friend tipped over on his. We can’t get him in, and now it’s completely dark out, and I can’t see anything.”
Durbay said she screamed for help until rescuers reached her, but Carbullido was still missing. By the time she went to the hospital that night, she feared the worst.
“I left the hospital, and I came home, and I just thought he was dead,” she said. “I was really, really scared.”
Authorities discovered an abandoned jet ski floating beyond the breakwater at approximately 1:15 a.m. Monday. A second jet ski was found about 30 minutes later.
Crews continued searching through the darkness and into the morning as concern mounted for the stranded rider. Then, around 10:30 a.m., the search finally produced a stunning breakthrough as a Coast Guard helicopter spotted Carbullido.
Miraculously, Coast Guard officials found the freezing and bruised man 2.5 miles off Seal Beach Pier. The helicopter lowered a rescue swimmer, who pulled Carbullido from the chilly water.
He said the realization of being rescued struck him hard.
“Oh, man, there was relief,” he said. “I was like, if there’s a God out there, there was relief. I can’t describe it. I was ready to give up.”
Carbullido is now recovering in the hospital from hypothermia.
