A freshly licensed sailing enthusiast from Los Angeles County set out on his maiden voyage — and happened upon a young woman struggling to stay afloat in Santa Monica Bay. 59-year-old Koz Khosravani recently acquired his pre-owned sailboat and had invited friends along for his first real sailing trip. They set out on September 26 for Paradise Cove in Malibu, 20 miles due northwest, where they could anchor and dine for a pleasant excursion.
… Koz, who just completed his American Sailing Association course, rendezvoused at 9:30AM with three friends at the dock — where he primed them in man-overboard rescue protocol before setting sail. At about 11:30, the voyagers on the bay spotted a pod of dolphins off their starboard. As they were taking photos the dolphins swam toward the opposite side of the boat toward something — and that’s when he saw what he thought was a hand. Koz turned to intercept what was a stranded swimmer, who was barely-conscious, struggling to keep her head above water. A female crewmember threw a lifeline as they passed her and made a figure-eight to perform a second pass. A second buoy was thrown and she managed to take hold of it but could barely move and appeared to be totally exhausted.
… After tending to the rescued swimmer — an unnamed 26-year-old — Koz radioed the Coast Guard who dispatched a rescue boat. She was treated for severe hypothermia and released after three days. She had apparently gone for a midnight skinny-dip only to be swept out to sea and rendered stranded, managing to stay above water for nearly twelve hours by floating on her back.