Abalone diver rescued near Gualala

<p>An abalone diver who drifted about a quarter-mile out to sea near Gualala was pulled to safety Saturday by the Sonoma County sheriff’s helicopter at the end of 100-foot line.</p><p>Lafayette resident John Morris, 51, had ditched his weight belt and lost his dive tube during the time he was adrift, Sonoma County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Thompson said.</p><p>But he had on a full wet suit to help him endure the frigid water.</p><p>“He’d been out there a good hour and was cold and tired, but other than that he was OK,” Thompson said. “Very grateful, obviously, for everybody’s efforts.”</p><p>Several 911 calls alerted authorities around 9:48 a.m. to two divers who appeared to be in trouble off Gualala, authorities said.</p><p>They’d been caught in “some serious rip current,” though one eventually managed to make it back to shore near Big Gulch Road just north of town.</p><p>Morris, however, could not get back. “He couldn’t do anything but just kind of tread water,” Thompson said.</p><p>Numerous agencies dispatched help, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Cal Fire, South Coast Fire, multiple ambulance companies and Cal Star medical helicopter, Cal Fire Capt. Jim Horton said.</p><p>Two California State Park lifeguards were in the water swimming out to Morris when the Henry 1 helicopter arrived overhead and dropped a line down with a paramedic who quickly harnessed the diver so they could be flown back to the bluff at the end of the long line, Thompson said.</p><p>Morris’ partner ran to him once on shore “and was happy as all get out,” Thompson said. “A lot of people scrambled for this.”</p>