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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories On being young and black in America Woman and grandson lose home in fire Snow expected for Southern Oregon passes today 10 things to know for Wednesday Walker students show creative chops at Invention Convention Education Walker students show creative chops at Invention Convention Teacher's Tips: Second — and third — chances are there for students For a friend: AHS seniors team up to help former fellow student Ashland builds a bridge across the STEM gap Chicken pox hits Ashland Middle School Environment New TAP pumps bolster Ashland's options Most residents speak against gas pipeline proposed for Southern Oregon Home Help: Make your new house feel like home ‘Tis the season — for wild mushrooms Business Silvio Calabi: GLA250 is a Merc for the masses Ashland's Safeway part of Haggen acquisition The Playwright pub will be serving again Saturday Mt. 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Shayne Looper: Away — or rather, the way — in a manger Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW Woman and grandson lose home in fire ... Snow expected for Southern Oregon passes today ... Walker students show creative chops at Invention Convention ... Woman and grandson lose home in fire ... Snow expected for Southern Oregon passes today ... Walker students show creative chops at Invention Convention ... WATER RESCUE Former Ashland student saves surfer from pounding waves AHS grad barely heard a fellow surfer's cry for help in San Diego waters Comment By Teresa Thomas For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Teresa Thomas For the Daily Tidings Posted Dec. 22, 2014 @ 8:49 pm By Teresa Thomas For the Daily Tidings Posted Dec. 22, 2014 @ 8:49 pm » Social News Quincy Briscoe’s first rescue happened within hours of taking his national EMT certification exam. The 21-year-old former Ashland High School student wrapped up his fall term at Santa Barbara City College last week, took his emergency medical technician exam Saturday in Los Angeles and was enjoying his first day of Christmas break surfing in San Diego, Calif., when he heard a cry for help. Briscoe had been surfing for more than an hour Sunday and was about to call it a day, but decided to hit a few more waves. He paddled out into the surf and, just as a wave passed over him, caught the last syllable of “help.” “I wasn't sure if it was an actual cry for help until I saw a man’s arm come flailing out of the water, and I noticed he didn't have his surfboard with him,” Briscoe said. They were about 50 yards from shore, where the water was about 30 feet deep, and the waves were about 6 to 8 feet tall and coming in sets of four. Despite a surge of adrenaline, Briscoe managed to keep his calm — thanks to his EMT training — and paddled about 15 yards to where a surfer was being pummeled by the waves. The man wasn't just distressed, he was in agony and couldn't catch his breath, Briscoe said. “We were in the crash zone, and the waves were right on top of us,” he recalled. “I grabbed onto his arm, and we went through the washing machine, but I managed to hold on.” Briscoe sandwiched the man between himself and the surfboard and got him to where they could touch bottom. The man collapsed, and another surfer helped Briscoe carry him to shore. Briscoe’s dad, Ashland photographer Christopher Briscoe, was taking pictures of surfers from Crystal Pier nearby and was surprised to see his son in the white water “hugging some guy.” He said he used his 600-millimeter telephoto lens to figure out what was going on. “At first, I thought it was a reunion with a college buddy, but once I saw what was going on, I was alarmed and took a few frames and then ran down the pier and around to the beach where the victim had just been pulled on shore,” Christopher Briscoe said. "I couldn't be more proud of my son," he said. On the beach, a bystander called 911, lifeguards began administering oxygen and, soon after, the paramedics arrived and took over. “I don’t know how he’s doing now, which is the weird part,” Quincy Briscoe said. “It was a wild, eye-opening and life-changing experience for me and for him as well, because of the way the surf was that day. It was unforgiving.” Briscoe said the victim was 18 years old and probably had lost his board in the first wave in a set of four and been worked by the others until he was exhausted. “Once panic sets in, you’re using up way too much energy trying to swim out of it,” he said. “I was just glad I was close enough to hear him.” Briscoe is currently a sailing instructor in Santa Barbara, but plans to work as an EMT while going to paramedic school. He’s also studying to get his master captain’s license for 50-ton water vessels. “This definitely changed my view of an emergency moment or situation,” he said Monday on the phone. “It taught me that things like this do happen and freaking out doesn't help the situation at all.” Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected] . Follow her at  www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt . By Teresa Thomas For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Teresa Thomas For the Daily Tidings Posted Dec. 22, 2014 @ 8:49 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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