A recreational diver who fell unconscious while swimming near an oil platform called Island Eureka 8 miles off the coast of Long Beach was rescued Saturday morning.
Multiple rescue agencies responded to a call about the unconscious diver at about 9:45 a.m., U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Benjamin McIntyre said.
The man, 40, was pulled out of the water and was safely onboard a Baywatch Cabrillo boat, according to McIntyre.
A Coast Guard helicopter was on route to transport the man to a hospital in Long Beach, but instead changed course and met with the boat and hoisted the man in a rescue basket.
Rescue crews said they were going to transport the man to a medical facility on Catalina Island.
There, the facility has a hyperbaric chamber––which is used in oxygen therapy–– for additional life-saving measures, McIntyre said.