A lifeguard competition that was taking place along the famed Huntington Beach in Southern California evolved into a real-life rescue when a tiny aircraft that was hauling a banner fell into the water during the competition.
On Friday, a representative with the Coast Guard said that the pilot was saved when the jet crashed around 30 yards from the coast.
No one else was onboard.
According to witnesses, both professional lifeguards and junior lifeguard competitors raced toward the aircraft in the seconds immediately after its impact with the ocean.
The accident took place during competitions for the California Surf Lifesaving Association Junior Lifeguard Championship in 2022.
According to a spokeswoman for the city of Huntington Beach, the pilot was brought to the hospital for precautionary measures despite just having bumps and bruises.