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OCEANSIDE, Calif. — A single wave drastically altered the course of Scott Muir’s life.
Muir, a devoted husband, father of two, and a seasoned U.S. Air Force veteran with 12 years of service, had been an avid surfer for most of his days. On the morning of September 28, what began as a serene Sunday surf session in Oceanside quickly spiraled into a life-or-death ordeal.
Nearby, 19-year-old Judah Ely was also out on the water, a fellow surfer who would soon play a crucial role in Muir’s survival after he went under.
Just moments before the incident, Muir had been jesting with a couple of teenage surfers, vying for the perfect position on the waves. What started as lighthearted competition soon turned into a desperate struggle.
Moments earlier, Muir had been joking around with a pair of teenage surfers, competing for position in the waves.
“There was this pair of teenagers, we were kind of playing cat and mouse, trying to outdo each other to get the better waves,” he said.
Then came the wave that changed everything.
“It was probably one of the best waves I’d had that day,” Muir said. “But before I knew it, it pulled me up, flipped me over, and drove me down headfirst and I hit the bottom.”
The impact left him paralyzed and face-down underwater.
“I felt hands touching me, and I remember thinking, that’s really weird, someone’s touching me,” he said.
Those hands belonged to Ely.
“I was looking for him to pop up so I could congratulate him,” Ely said. “Every second that went by, I got more and more worried. I jumped off my board and swam as fast as I could, those 10 seconds were the scariest of my life.”
Ely and his friend Thomas Alspaugh, a junior lifeguard, pulled Muir to shore and got the attention of nearby surfers and lifeguards.
“I’m glad we were in the right place at the right time,” Alspaugh said. “Usually, people are focused on getting the best wave. But that day, it was just about camaraderie.”
Before that moment, the only interaction between Muir and the teens had been a smile and a few friendly words, something Muir believes may have saved his life.
“That goodwill in the water that’s what kept them looking out for me,” he said.
Muir has since regained movement in his arms and one leg. He’ll spend several months in spinal rehabilitation, determined to walk and surf again.
Just weeks before the accident, Muir completed a 30-mile paddle from Catalina Island to Newport Beach, raising thousands of dollars for ocean lifesaving scholarships. Now, those same lifesaving skills helped bring him back home.
Muir says he’s grateful for the new friendships and second chance at life, a reminder, he says, of how one small act of kindness can ripple into saving a life.
A fundraiser called “Keep Scott Surfing” has been launched to help with Muir’s recovery and medical expenses.