Very awesome article on water rescues that we all should read
http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/surf-survival-water-rescue_119804/
Video of the rescue of Maya Gabeira:
Good things to keep in mind. On my way out to Spartan yesterday, I saw a swimmer stuck in the outflow; I tacked back in to see how he was doing, but took a couple waves on the head a bit too close to the reef. I realized I wouldn’t be able to be of much help in those conditions (towing him downwind into the rocks wasn’t going to help either of us), and I could see he made it safely onto the reef. A few bystanders on shore had noticed him by then. I had to leave it at that and assume he made it out ok.
It’s good to have a rescue plan in mind, not just for yourself.