Four surfers – including a Caltrans Engineer – were honored June 27 by the City of Huntington Beach for saving the life of a fellow surfer in distress.
Caltrans District 12 Sr. Transportation Engineer Chris Blanco and three other surfers – Edgar Murillo, Kien Bui and Shawn Rocha — were honored by the City of Huntington Beach for their courageous actions at Bolsa Chica State Beach, where they helped save the life of a fellow surfer found unconscious in the water. Chris and his friends acted immediately, bringing him to shore and using CPR skills Chris learned through Caltrans training to help save a life.
The ceremony took place as part of the Huntington Beach Mayor’s Spotlight Awards, hosted by Mayor Casey McKeon.
On May 31, 2026, Murillo, Bui, Rocha, and Blanco were surfing on Bolsa Chica Beach when they noticed a surfer in distress floating face down and unconscious in the water. Recognizing the emergency, they immediately sprang into action, paddling to the victim, bringing him safely to shore, and helping until emergency responders arrived.
According to responding personnel, the surfer had been unconscious and unable to protect himself while submerged in the ocean. Based on the circumstances and the patient’s condition, first responders determined that the actions of these four surfers likely saved his life.
Huntington Beach honored the four for their extraordinary bravery, selflessness and willingness to help a stranger in a moment of crisis. Their actions are a powerful reminder that ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference when seconds matter most.
The survivor, Dan, and his family attended the ceremony.
Caltrans Santa Ana thanked Chris and the group of surfers whose quick thinking, compassion and bravery made all the difference. Their actions are a powerful reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.