Missing Jet Skier Rescued Alive After Overnight Search Off Seal Beach

A 53-year-old jet skier survived an overnight ordeal and was hoisted to safety by a Coast Guard helicopter crew late Monday morning off Seal Beach.

Story Snapshot

Coast Guard aircrew found the missing man late Monday morning and lifted him from the water.
Local firefighters and police joined the overnight search that began around 10 p.m. Sunday.
Reporters identified the man as Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr., who was treated for hypothermia.
Outlets reported the find at about 2.5 to 3 miles offshore after 12–16 hours of searching.

Rescue Timeline And Location

Long Beach firefighters, the United States Coast Guard, and Long Beach police started searching around 10 p.m. Sunday after reports that a man fell from a jet ski near Long Beach. A Coast Guard helicopter spotted the missing rider late Monday morning near the Seal Beach Pier and called in a hoist rescue. Media reports place the find roughly 2.5 to 3 miles offshore, and describe a 12 to 16 hour search before the rescue was complete.

ABC7 reported the helicopter sighting at about 10:48 a.m., with the man wearing a green life jacket. Reporters say a Coast Guard rescue swimmer was lowered from the helicopter and secured the survivor for a lift back to shore. NBC Los Angeles noted he was conscious after pickup, though suffering from hypothermia, which is common after long immersion in ocean water. Paramedics assessed him on land, and outlets reported he was in stable condition.

Who Was Rescued And Which Agencies Helped

CBS Los Angeles identified the rescued rider as 53-year-old Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr., and said he was found alive and hypothermic after a lengthy search. The United States Coast Guard handled the hoist and transport, while Long Beach Fire Department marine units and police managed the shoreline and on-water search through the night. This joint response matches standard practice for water rescues near busy harbor areas, where multiple agencies share duties.

Local coverage early on referenced two jet skiers involved, with one person rescued first and a second still missing, which added confusion as the search unfolded. By late morning, officials confirmed the remaining rider had been located alive offshore and airlifted out. Across outlets, the core facts align: a group ride turned into a missing person case, agencies launched a fast overnight search, and a helicopter crew found and recovered the man alive near Seal Beach.

Why He Survived And What It Says About Coastal Safety

Cold stress, time in the water, and flotation often decide survival in ocean incidents. The Coast Guard uses survival models that weigh these factors when planning searches and setting urgency. In this case, a life jacket, a rapid multi-agency response, and daylight air search likely raised the odds. Video and reports show the hoist technique used by Coast Guard rescue swimmers, which is designed to move a hypothermic patient quickly but safely.

A second jet skier who went missing off the coast in Long Beach on Sunday night has been found alive and hypothermic, the U.S. Coast Guard says: https://t.co/Q8WGDFBoxN pic.twitter.com/iNiV4pod2T

— CBS LA (@CBSLosAngeles) August 17, 2026

For beach and harbor users, this rescue is a reminder to ride in pairs, wear a life jacket, carry a whistle and light, and keep a simple waterproof locator on board. For families, it shows why clear 911 information about last known location and clothing color matters. For taxpayers, it is a case where coordinated public safety worked: city boats held the line overnight, and a federal helicopter closed the search loop from the air. A few details still vary by outlet, but the rescue outcome is solid and well documented.