Los Angeles County lifeguards made nearly 2,000 water rescues over the past week.
Lifeguards in Los Angeles County were extraordinarily busy over the weekend, rescuing more than 1,500 people as millions flocked to local beaches to escape the heat, with rough ocean conditions driven by offshore storms and swells dramatically increasing coastal hazards.
As Tropical Storm Fausto caused high surf last weekend, Los Angeles County lifeguards made a record 1,950 rescues.
A busy summer weekend is usually in the 300 rescue range, 500 on the high end.
Lifeguard captain Pono Barnes called the 1,950 rescues “staggering.”
“We have people, swell and warm water, and it’s summertime. And the beach is the most inexpensive thing you can do with the family on the weekend,” Barnes said. “All of those things are going to come into alignment and I think we will see impressive numbers as well this coming weekend.”
No fatalities were reported and 517 people required medical assistance.
The rescues came during an exceptionally hot and humid weekend across Southern California with inland temperatures reaching the triple digits in some communities, sending crowds toward the coast, where a strong swell generated elevated surf and millions of people visited Los Angeles County beaches during the weekend.
Hurricane Genevieve has gained force this week, with swells expected to beef up waves to the 8- to 10-foot range at south-facing beaches.
“It’s going to be extreme, we believe, for the next couple of days,” Newport Beach Lifeguard Chief Brian O’Rourke said.
Crowds were gathered on Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz, California, to enjoy warm July weather last weekend when lifeguards jumped into action for a heart-pounding water rescue as tropical cyclones in the eastern Pacific Ocean generated a long-period swell with towering sets of 10-foot waves.
Sixteen-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams repeatedly disappeared beneath towering waves while refusing to let go of a child swept into dangerous California surf in Santa Cruz, California on July 25.
“I was at the waterline 15 yards downcoast of Tower 2 making a safety contact when I looked up and saw a child about 20 (yards) up from the tower lose his footing in ankle-deep water,” Williams said in a statement.
“I radioed it in, threw my radio and sunglasses at the base of my tower as I ran toward the kid. I put my fins on my wrist, popped my buoy and entered the water to get ahold of the child.”
In the viral moment captured at Seabright State Beach on July 25, Williams repeatedly struggled through massive white water and rip currents to drag the child, identified as 10-year-old Nathaniel Rai, back to shore.
Two lifeguards rescue a 10-year-old boy at Seabright State Beach on July 25, and eventually the two lifeguards were able to drag the exhausted boy out of the ocean and back to the shore, video shows.
One of the heroic lifeguards was a rookie and between 16-17 years old, described the young lifeguard’s actions as “phenomenal,” and good Samaritans attempted to help during the rescue mission, but the boy could only be saved by lifeguards with expert training.
“The waves were pushing so hard,” Williams noted in his statement, where he thanked his fellow lifeguard for helping him in the rescue.
“This is my job and I love what I do,” Williams said in a statement. “I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely. I’m thankful to my fellow lifeguards who perform rescues just like this every day.”
Williams is in his first season as a lifeguard and is super overwhelmed by all of the attention, still trying to figure out how to be a lifeguard, according to his lifeguard supervisor Byran Kine of California State Parks.
The boy’s father, Sumit Rai, praised Williams’ efforts in an interview. “It was a remarkable effort to bring him back to shore. I mean Ryder fought the sea,” he told the outlet.
Rai thanked Ryder and the other lifeguards who came to his son’s rescue. “God bless them, and, you know, thank you. I cannot express sufficient gratitude.”
Summer south swells often have long intervals between sets of waves, which can create a false sense of security due to conditions appearing calm, State Parks officials explained, and a Beach Hazards Statement from the National Weather Service remained in effect through Wednesday afternoon for the San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay.
The dangers extend well beyond last weekend’s rescues.
The father of 5-year-old Amada Mia Brown said “Our family’s lives changed forever following a tragic accident on Tuesday, June 9, in Laguna Beach. After an extensive search, Amada was found and has now been reunited with her loved ones. While we are grateful to have answers, our hearts are shattered by this devastating loss.”
The heartbreaking event unfolded around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, when the Brown family was walking along the shoreline at Treasure Island Beach amid dangerous surf conditions brought on by a powerful south swell and a large wave, estimated at around 10 feet, suddenly engulfed the mother and her two young children.
Officials said a mother and her two children were swept into the ocean by powerful water conditions near the shoreline with bystanders jumping into action and managing to rescue the mother and the girl’s brother from the water.
Brown clarified his daughter’s age and vulnerability. “She’s not a teenager. You know, she wasn’t just some regular swimmer. You know she was 5-years-old.”
Los Angeles beaches are expected to see 4- to 6-foot surf in areas such as Manhattan Beach, Venice and Malibu, with potential for sizable surf at Will Rogers and Santa Monica beaches, according to Barnes.