ENCINITAS, Calif. — Lifeguards and surfers have rescued three people out of a hot air balloon after it went into the ocean off a Southern California beach.

A man was proposing to his girlfriend during their sunset ride Sunday when the balloon drifted off course and hovered over the water off Cardiff by the Sea, KNSD-TV reports.

Many people watched as the balloon drifted toward the beach in northern San Diego county and dipped into the water.

Eric Barretto told the station he and his fiancee threw a rope to the water below and several surfers pulled the balloon back to shore.

A witness told U-T San Diego the pilot stayed with the balloon and kept it inflated while it was tugged onto the beach.

No injuries were reported.