Scottish surfer rescued 13 miles offshore after holding on to his board for 32 hours

Matthew Bryce of Scotland was rescued after his family reported him missing when he did not return from a surfing trip off the western coast of Scotland.

May 2, 2017 9:50 AM PT

A surfer survived while holding on to his board some 32 hours after being swept out to sea from while attempting to surf along the west coast of Scotland, according to the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Matthew Bryce, 22, of Glasgow was rescued by helicopter on Monday night and was recovering at a hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday.

“I am so grateful that I am now receiving treatment in hospital,” Bryce said in a statement. “I cannot thank those enough who rescued and cared for me, they are all heroes.”

Water temperatures dropped as low as 46 degrees while Bryce was at sea. He was conscious but suffering from hypothermia at the time of his rescue.

“He was kitted out with all the right clothing including a thick neoprene suit and this must have helped him to survive for so long at sea,” said Dawn Petrie, a spokeswoman for the coast guard operations center in Belfast that coordinated the search.

Bryce’s family alerted authorities midday on Monday after he failed to return from Machrihanish beach, where he went to surf the previous morning.

“Hope was fading of finding the surfer safe and well after such a long period in the water, and with nightfall approaching we were gravely concerned,” Petrie said.

But then the rescue crew spotted something in the water 13 miles offshore. Coast guard Capt. Andy Pilliner, pilot of helicopter, said they initially thought it was a buoy.

“We went around, dropped down the height a bit, came in and then that moment, when you go, ‘Oh! it is actually a surfboard and there is actually someone on it waving,’” Pilliner said. “It’s just a great feeling, it’s just what you’re hoping for, but daren’t.”

charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii

ALSO

‘Grab the surf leash!’ Beachgoers frantically try to save woman attacked by shark at popular surf spot

Here’s how hundreds of tons of plastic trash end up in Arctic Ocean

Huge arsenal seized from high-ranking Pasadena police officer’s home, new records show