A woman has spoken about a frightening morning in which an early cold plunge nearly turned fatal, leaving her clinging to a rock for more than half an hour while she waited for help to arrive.
Maxime Rancourt had set out in the San Francisco Bay area hoping to start her day with a rush, heading out for an early swim in the chilly water.
Instead, the outing took a dangerous turn during a cliff-diving session, when heavy surf and strong water movement left her stuck offshore and in need of an emergency rescue.
According to reports, rescues in the same area are not uncommon, with roughly 32 people needing assistance there each year because of powerful currents.
“I was told I was grateful to be alive, you know,” she said through tears during an interview with ABC News.
“I could have died,” she added, as the interviewer comforted her.
Rancourt explained that conditions initially appeared manageable when she decided to go out that day. But despite what seemed like a calm forecast, the situation changed almost immediately once she was in the water.
She said a strong current pulled both her and her board outward, while the waves continued to drive her farther away.
After battling the surf for what felt like an endless stretch of time, she finally spotted a rock near the base of a cliff and fought her way over, hauling herself up to get out of the water.
From there, she held on tightly, stranded on the rock in Kelly’s Cove roughly 70 feet below the top of the cliff. Wearing only a swimsuit, she waited, hoping someone passing by might notice her and call for help.
After around 30 exhausting minutes, she was finally seen, and the person who spotted her contacted emergency services. Responders arrived just minutes after the call.
A firefighter then rappelled down in difficult conditions to reach her, while two additional firefighters helped coordinate the rescue from above, holding a grab line to ensure she could be brought up safely.
Rancourt’s plunge happened as winds in the area were reported to be unusually strong, and the water temperature was said to be 56 degrees Fahrenheit.
With cold air blowing off the Pacific making the conditions feel even harsher, she was ultimately located and rescued before the situation became even more dangerous.
Afterward, footage from the scene showed an emotional moment as she hugged the firefighter who brought her to safety.
“Thank you for saving my life,” she told him. “Because of you, I’m going to have a future, and I’m going to have kids,” she added, embracing her rescuer.
In the wake of the ordeal, Rancourt said she has no intention of going back into the water anytime soon.