53-Year-Old Man Vanishes After Jet Ski Accident, Rescuers Find Him Alive 15 Hours Later

LONG BEACH, Calif. — What began as an evening jet ski outing for two friends quickly became a desperate fight for survival after one of them was thrown from his watercraft and spent roughly 15 hours stranded in the water before rescuers finally found him.

Paul Carbullido Jr., 53, and his friend and co-worker Donna Dubray, 47, rented jet skis around 7 p.m. on Aug. 16 and departed from Rainbow Harbor, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The pair had reportedly been told by the rental vendor that they had about an hour on the water. They were unaware of a California law prohibiting personal watercraft operation after sunset.

During the outing, Carbullido traveled past the breakwater before falling from his jet ski.

The situation became even more frightening when Dubray jumped into the water to help him but was unable to get him back onto the watercraft.

Friend Swims for Help as Carbullido Cannot Move

According to the Coast Guard, Dubray attempted to reboard her own jet ski and restart its engine but could not do so. Carbullido later recalled the terrifying moments, saying he was dazed and struggling even to catch his breath.

“She jumped off her jet ski,” he said. “Her jet ski, I remember, it was just going.”

Dubray eventually reached him and urged him to come with her. But Carbullido said he was unable to move.

“I need to catch my breath. I need to catch my breath,” he remembered telling her.

With Carbullido unable to swim, Dubray made the difficult decision to swim toward shore to get help. Carbullido was left alone in the water wearing only his life jacket. He later described the fear that took over as he wondered whether he would survive.

“I don’t want to die this way,” he recalled telling himself, according to The New York Times. “But maybe it’s my time.”

Woman Rescued After Swimming for an Hour

Around 10:30 p.m., a good Samaritan aboard another vessel called 911 after hearing a woman’s cries for help near the Long Beach Breakwater.

Long Beach Fire Department lifeguards responded and swam toward the breakwater. They found Dubray and brought her aboard a fire boat. But Dubray immediately told rescuers that something was wrong.

“You’re going the wrong direction,” she recalled saying. “My friend, we need to save him, he’s still in the water!”

Dubray was taken to shore and transported to a hospital in stable condition, officials said. Authorities then launched a search for Carbullido that continued through the morning. During the search, responders located two jet skis, but Carbullido was still missing.

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Coast Guard Helicopter Spots Man Alive

The breakthrough came on the morning of Aug. 17 at approximately 10:48 a.m. A Coast Guard helicopter aircrew searching south of Seal Beach spotted Carbullido alive. He was floating on his back while wearing his life jacket.

After realizing the helicopter had found him, Carbullido raised his head and waved toward the aircraft, according to the Coast Guard.

The aircrew then hoisted him from the water and transported him to Long Beach Airport, where he was turned over to emergency medical personnel from the Long Beach Fire Department.

Carbullido had survived for hours in the water and was showing signs of hypothermia when rescuers reached him.

A Coast Guard official told that his body temperature had dropped to about 85 degrees. Officials said the unusually warm water and the life jacket helped him survive the ordeal.

Coast Guard Emphasizes Importance of Life Jackets

The dramatic rescue prompted a reminder from the Coast Guard about the importance of wearing proper safety equipment while on the water.

Lt. Cmdr. Jason Caprioli, search and rescue mission coordinator with Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach, emphasized that a life jacket can be critical in an emergency.

“This incident highlights the importance of wearing a life jacket at all times when on the water,” Caprioli said in a statement. “It is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself.”

For Dubray, the rescue ended with relief that her friend had been found alive after hours of uncertainty.

For Carbullido, the experience became a terrifying reminder of how quickly a recreational outing can turn into a life-threatening emergency.

After 15 hours alone in the water, he was finally located and brought to safety.

What would you do if you were stranded in the water for hours? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know.