As the saying goes, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". Here is a perfect example of that happening to a surfer in Pacific Beach when trying to help save someone's life. Dustin Lackey had just purchased a $700 longboard using money his grandmother sent him for his 21st birthday. The board was only a week old and Dustin was enjoying the new board on Saturday at Crystal Pier. Suddenly Dustin noticed someone jump from the pier. In the panic and rescue attempt by several surfers, Dustin let his board drift to shore where it was promptly stolen.

The SignOnSanDiego story Surfer saves a life as thieves swipe his new longboard tells us of the ordeal

On the beach, San Diego lifeguards were conferring with paramedics, who decided that because they were dealing with a severely injured neck, they risked further injury by bringing the man to shore over the crashing surf. They instead took the unusual step of sending paramedics out on a jet ski, Lifeguard Lt. Andy Lerum said.

The board is a John Carper Peter Mel Machine (gray). Anyone with information is asked to contact lifeguards at (619) 221-8950. Let's help him get his board back!

UPDATE at 10-31-2006 11:38 am:

Good News! SignOnSanDiego's Good Samaritan surfer will get just reward updates us on Dustin's situation. On Monday Dustin was informed Cox Communications will give him a new surfboard!

And that wasn't all. The mayor held a news conference in Lackey's honor. The 21-year-old Mesa College student found himself inundated by interview requests from the media. Congressman Brian Bilbray called to offer praise and condolences.

The man whose life Lackey saved spent Monday undergoing surgery at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla to repair a broken spine. Ronald Williams, 39, who had been drinking whiskey before deciding to dive head-first off the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, can't feel his body below his chest, San Diego lifeguard Lt. Andy Lerum said.

Williams, who is unemployed and homeless, apparently had no intention of killing himself. He simply didn't realize the water was so shallow, Lerum said.

At the news conference Dustin Lackey and surfing buddies Travis Collings and Torrey West were also honored.

UPDATE on 11-01-2006 8:36 am:

The outpouring of support continues. Thanks to the article in the Union Tribune Dustin Lackey has had so many offers for a new surfboard he is overwhelmed. Everyone from a lady on Social Security to a wife who just lost her husband to the shaper of the board himself, John Carper.

SignOnSanDiego updates us with Surfing Samaritan swamped with offers for new board

Cox Communications came through Monday with a new board for Lackey, but many people wanting to help the surfer jammed the phone lines to the San Diego Lifeguard switchboard and filled the voice mail and e-mail systems of a Union-Tribune reporter.

Surfing legend Peter Mel who designed Lackey's board offered to give him a special new one. Mel's wife, Tara Yasmin Mel, wrote, "Dustin is a hero for saving a life. We will do whatever it takes to get him a new board."

Also offering a custom board was Frank Rideg, father-in-law of surfing star Shane Dorian. One of Dorian's sponsors is John "JC" Carper, the famous board shaper who built the board of Lackey's dreams: the John Carper Epoxy Peter Mel Machine.

I hope the SurfSD community had a small hand in helping spread the word!