Over Head

PACIFICA — A Brazilian teen who misjudged the movement of the tide on Sunday had to be rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter as he sat on his surfboard at sea, according to officials.

Eric Urban, 17, a surfer visiting local relatives, was out in the water off Sharp Park Beach around 2:25 p.m. when he realized he couldn't get back in, he said Sunday. Although the waves were not quite 10 feet high, the tide was dropping and he got pulled away to a point about 200 yards south of the Pacifica Pier.

A distress call summoned the Pacifica Fire Department and a Coast Guard boat and helicopter, which arrived at 2:30 p.m., according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Russell Nagle.

The helicopter sent a rescue swimmer into the ocean who helped attach Urban to a cable.

Fifteen minutes later, the helicopter deposited the chilled, but healthy, surfer a short distance away on land.

"He was inexperienced and couldn't make his way," said Nagle. Urban said he was the only surfer in the area when he first paddled out.