Man lost off SoCal coast after jet ski incident recalls fight to survive: ‘I was ready to give up’

Nypost · Aug 19, 2026 · 457 words · By Ross O'Keefe

Human Interest/Survival Emergency Services/Rescue

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What to know about Human Interest/Survival

Man lost off SoCal coast after jet ski incident recalls fight to survive: ‘I was ready to give up’ See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 10

Techniques found 1

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left17%

Center66%

Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Man lost off SoCal coast after jet ski incident recalls fight to survive: ‘I was ready to give up’ See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The California Post on Google The man who fell off his jet ski and floated for 12 hours off the coast of Long Beach in the dark described his horrifying survival story in harrowing detail.

Common ground

Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr., 53, said a wave swept him and his roommate off their jet skis Sunday evening as they were out on a sunset ride.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Human Interest/Survival story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The man who fell off his jet ski and floated for 12 hours off the coast of Long Beach in the dark?
How does this story connect Human Interest/Survival with Emergency Services/Rescue over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/19/us-news/man-lost-off-socal-coast-after-jet-ski-inc…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6

info Single Source 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

help Insufficient Evidence 1

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Claim 1: “The man who fell off his jet ski and floated for 12 hours off the coast of Long Beach in the dark”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web sources confirm a man fell off a jet ski and floated for 12 hours off the coast of Long Beach.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Long Beach is a coastal city in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is the 44th-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 450,469 as of 2025. A charter c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Beach,_California

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Long Beach Airport (IATA: LGB, ICAO: KLGB, FAA LID: LGB) is a public airport 3 mi (4.8 km) northeast of downtown Long Beach, in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is also called Daugher…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Beach_Airport

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Port of Long Beach, administered as the Harbor Department of the City of Long Beach, is a container port in the United States, which adjoins Port of Los Angeles. Acting as a major gateway for US–…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Long_Beach

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 2: “A second jet ski was found about 30 minutes later.”

SINGLE SOURCE

One TikTok source mentions a 'second missing jet skier' or a 'lone jet ski found adrift' but the specific detail of a second jet ski being found 30 minutes after the first is not corroborated by other provided sources.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — "Blue Monday" is a song by the English rock band New Order. It was released as a 12-inch single on 7 March 1983 through Factory Records. It appears on certain cassette and CD versions of New Order's s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Monday_(New_Order_song)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Monday is the day of the week that takes place between Sunday and Tuesday. According to the International Organization for Standardization's ISO 8601 standard, it is the first day of the week.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monday

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — "Monday, Monday" is a 1966 song written by John Phillips and recorded by the Mamas & the Papas, with backing music by members of the Wrecking Crew for their 1966 album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monday,_Monday

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 3: “Authorities discovered an abandoned jet ski floating beyond the breakwater at approximately 1:15 a.m. Monday.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of crossword puzzle clues and general definitions of 'Monday', with no specific mention of the jet ski discovery time of 1:15 a.m.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Monday Monday is an ITV comedy drama. It stars Fay Ripley, Jenny Agutter, Neil Stuke, Holly Aird, Morven Christie, Tom Ellis, and Miranda Hart. It is set in the head office of a supermarket that has f…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monday_Monday

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 4: “around 10:30 a.m., the search finally produced a stunning breakthrough as a Coast Guard helicopter spotted Carbullido.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim contains unrelated Coast Guard rescues and filming reports, but does not mention the 10:30 a.m. breakthrough for Carbullido.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Coast Guard responded to a report of boat fire with two people aboard near the Grand Haven Channel around 3:30 p.m. on Friday. … ...ещё.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKmccgje-GY

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web search NEUTRAL — The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter to the area and transported the patient to a local hospital for treatment, according to the sheriff's office.
https://nbc16.com/newsletter-daily/sars-09-09-2026

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web search NEUTRAL — The HM Coastguard helicopter has been spotted circling around the resort for the filming of a special Blue Peter feature. It was first spotted flying around the Thorpe Park and Tetney Marshes area at …
https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/cleetho…

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Claim 5: “Coast Guard officials found the freezing and bruised man 2.5 miles off Seal Beach Pier.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm he was rescued off the Seal Beach Pier and was suffering from hypothermia.

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web search NEUTRAL — 2,5 тыс просмотров. Monika Akai_ Slender Brunette Gets a Thick Cock in Her Tight Ass.mp4. 34:31.
https://vkvideo.ru/video-233440997_456239141

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A man who fell from a Jet Ski near Long Beach and was reported missing was rescued hours later after a search Monday morning off Seal Beach Pier, according to authorities. The man was suffering from h…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/guy-who-fell-off-jet-ski-lon…

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web search NEUTRAL — Paul Anthony Carballido Jr., de 53 años., fue localizado con vida tras un operativo de búsqueda; el hombre cayó al agua mientras conducía una moto acuática. A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter…
https://laopinion.com/2026/08/18/hombre-es-rescatado-tras-12…

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Claim 6: “Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr., 53, said a wave swept him and his roommate off their jet skis Sunday evening as they were out on a sunset ride.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources identify the man as Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr., age 53, and state he and his roommate were swept off their jet skis by a wave during a sunset ride on Sunday.

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web search NEUTRAL — Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr., 53, remains on the mend but is expected to be released from the hospital on Wednesday.The two were hit by a wave and got knocked off their watercrafts. While Durbay was sw…
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/long-beach-jet-ski-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr., 53, said a wave swept him and his roommate off their jet skis Sunday evening as they were out on a sunset ride. Paul Anthony Carbuildo after being rescued from the ocean.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/19/us-news/man-lost-off-socal-coa…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Paul Anthony Carbullido Jr., 53, remains hospitalized after his harrowing experience lost at sea. With nothing but a life jacket, the man could only wish to be saved. Thankfully, he was.
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/long-beach-jet-ski-incident

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Claim 7: “The helicopter lowered a rescue swimmer, who pulled Carbullido from the chilly water.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim in the search results.

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Claim 8: “His roommate, Donna Durbay, was carried to the break wall”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the roommate, Donna Durbay, was carried to the break wall.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The man who fell off his jet ski and floated for 12 hours off the coast of Long Beach in the dark described his horrifying survival story in harrowing detail.NBC LOS ANGELES. His roommate, Donna Durba…
https://nypost.com/2026/08/19/us-news/man-lost-off-socal-coa…

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web search NEUTRAL — Durbay, meanwhile, managed to get back to her own jet ski but was unable to start it. She quickly called the rental company, reporting, "My friend tipped over on his.
https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/jet-skier-survives-twelve-hours-l…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Durbay managed to reach the break wall, but Carbullido vanished into the darkness.Durbay, meanwhile, had found her way back to her jet ski but could not restart it. She called the rental company in de…
https://pulptastic.com/man-lost-at-sea-for-12-hours-says-he-…

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Claim 9: “Carbullido is now recovering in the hospital from hypothermia.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm Carbullido was hospitalized and suffering from hypothermia following the rescue.

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Claim 10: “Carbullido had a life jacket on, but could not swim”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources explicitly state that Carbullido was wearing a life jacket but could not swim.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Guam competed at the 2011 Pacific Games in Nouméa, New Caledonia between August 27 and September 10, 2011, finishing 14th, with 6 silver and 5 bronze medals. Guam had 312 competitors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guam_at_the_2011_Pacific_Games

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Joshua Franquez Tenorio (born December 30, 1973) is a Guamanian politician and businessman currently serving as the tenth lieutenant governor of Guam since January 7, 2019. He is the first openly gay …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Tenorio

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Republican Party of Guam (Chamorro: Påttida Republikan Guåhan), commonly referred to as Guam GOP (abbreviation for Guam Grand Old Party), is a political party in Guam affiliated with the United St…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_of_Guam

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.