Full Breakdown
Long Beach Jet Ski Accident Leads to 12-Hour Rescue
8/20/2026, 11:59:30 AM
Core Incident
On a Sunday evening off the Long Beach coast, 53-year-old Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr. and his roommate, Donna Durbay, rented personal watercraft from Rainbow Harbor. While riding near the Queens Gate Entrance Channel, a wave capsized both jet skis. Durbay reached the break wall and was rescued after five hours in the water. Carbullido, who cannot swim, was swept farther offshore and remained missing for more than 12 hours. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter located him the following morning about 2½–3 miles south of the Seal Beach pier; a rescue swimmer hoisted him aboard, and he was taken to a hospital with signs of hypothermia.
Timeline
- Sunday, ~7 p.m. – Carbullido and Durbay launch jet skis.
- Shortly after – A wave capsizes both watercraft; Durbay is swept to the break wall, Carbullido drifts east of the Queens Gate Entrance Channel.
- ~10 p.m. – 911 calls report two missing jet skiers; Long Beach Fire Department, Coast Guard and police begin search.
- ~10:19 p.m. – A good-samaritan on a boat hears Durbay yelling for help and alerts authorities. Lifeguards rescue Durbay and transport her to a fire boat, then to a hospital.
- ~1:45 a.m. (Monday) – Coast Guard and fire-boat crews locate the two jet skis but not Carbullido.
- ~10:45 a.m. (Monday) – A Coast Guard helicopter spots Carbullido floating on his back, wearing a neon-green life jacket.
- ~10:48 a.m. – A rescue swimmer is lowered; Carbullido is hoisted to safety, air-lifted to shore, and assessed for hypothermia.
Data & Statistics
- Duration adrift: 12 hours.
- Distance from shore when rescued: approximately 2½ miles (? 4 km) offshore of Seal Beach pier.
- Body temperature: 88 °F (? 31 °C).
- Rescue assets: Four Long Beach Fire Department fire boats, Los Angeles police boats, a Coast Guard vessel, a Coast Guard helicopter, and a rescue swimmer.
- Life-jacket usage: Carbullido wore a life jacket throughout the ordeal.
Official Statements & Responses
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that Carbullido was “conscious and suffering from hypothermia” when rescued and highlighted the role of the life jacket in keeping him afloat. Lt. Cmdr. Jason Caprioli noted the importance of life-jacket use. Long Beach Fire Department Captain Jack Crabtree said a good-samaritan’s call helped pinpoint Durbay’s location. Petty Officer Adam Stanton reported that Carbullido initially did not respond to the helicopter crew but began moving his legs as the aircraft approached, prompting the rescue swimmer’s deployment.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was like, if there's a God out there, there was relief. I can't describe it. I was ready to give up.” — Paul Anthony Carbullido
- “Oh, man, there was relief. I was like, ‘If there’s a God out there…’ It was relief,” — Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr
- “This incident highlights the importance of wearing a life jacket at all times when on the water,” — Lt. Cmdr. Jason Caprioli
Why It Matters
The rescue underscores two safety lessons for recreational watercraft users: the life-saving value of a properly worn life jacket and the heightened risk of operating jet skis after dark, especially for inexperienced riders. Authorities stress that even short rides near break walls can become hazardous when waves push riders beyond the safety of the shoreline.
