A surfer who was swept away from shore by heavy surf was rescued Friday evening at Haskell’s Beach in Goleta, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Crews were dispatched shortly before 6:30 p.m. after a friend reported that high surf had caused the surfer to lose his board and be pulled away from the beach, fire Capt. Mike Gray said.

“The surfer managed to grab onto a lobster trap buoy and held on while waiting rescue,” Gray said.

Fire personnel located the missing man’s surfboard on the beach, and used aerial drones with infrared cameras to scan the ocean.

The surfer, whose name was not released, was spotted about a quarter-mile offshore, Gray said.

“Rescue swimmers swam out, made contact under real-time drone operator guidance, and safely escorted him back to shore,” Gray added.

Paramedics evaluated the man on the beach, but he did not require medical attention and was released.