A 63-year-old surfer was in critical condition today after lifeguards pulled him from the water in high surf off Oahu’s North Shore, a city lifeguard spokeswoman said.

Lifeguards responded to a surfer in distress at about 11:30 a.m. at Sunset Beach, paddled out to the man on a rescue board, pulled him up, and paddled him back to shore where the man began vomiting water, said Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokeswoman Shayne Enright.

She said a friend reported the man was knocked off his surfboard while on a 12-foot wave.

Lifeguards performed medical treatment until paramedics arrived. Paramedics stabilized the man and took him to a hospital.

Surf at the time was 12- to 16-foot faces, Enright said.

The National Weather Service said surf will be 8 to 12 feet along Oahu’s North Shore tonight and gradually subside until another swell arrives next Saturday.