The Beach Hazard statement is in effect on most of Southern California’s coastal areas amid a busy Independence Day weekend when hundreds of people were rescued in just one community on Friday.
The community is Newport Beach. Their lifeguard agency posted to X late on Friday night that they were rescued from the “monster” RIP current in one incident on July 4th. More than 350 rescues have been conducted throughout the day in Newport Beach, the Post said.
Another Instagram post co-published by Newport Beach Lifeguard, Lifeguard Project, North American Rescue and Hoist Operator Union — including the same footage as the X-Post — goes further in rescue of a swimmer stuck in a cleft in a “dog leg.”
“[This is] Instagram captions read by Instagram captions, one of the best videos that capture the invisible moments of a critical lifeguard rescue in Newport Beach.
The Newport Beach lifeguard was posted on X late Friday night, posting that in one incident, 10 swimmers were rescued from the “monster” RIP current on July 4th. More than 350 rescues have been conducted throughout the day in Newport Beach, the Post said. (x/newportbeachlg) The Newport Beach lifeguard was posted on X late Friday night, with 10 swimmers being rescued from the “monster” RIP current on July 4th in one incident. More than 350 rescues have been conducted throughout the day in Newport Beach, the Post said. (x/newportbeachlg)
All those rescued are said to have returned safely to the coast.
After speaking to KTLA 5’s Jennifer McGraw on Saturday morning, a former lifeguard, longtime Newport Beach resident said he wasn’t surprised by the number of people who need to be saved, especially in rough circumstances.
“There’s a big lull in the surf, and when the set comes, there’s five or six waves in the set…and they’re pretty big,” John Rayman said. “So it looks calm for a while, then a big set comes in and people get thrown away, and when there’s a lot of water in, there’s a lot of water coming in, there’s a lot of water coming out.
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National Weather Service has issued a beach hazard statement on beaches along Ventura County and the Malibu coast. It is also predicted that each NWS has seen the dangerous rip currents and waves rise in the beaches in LA County and the Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands, causing waves to break down due to rising waves.
“The risk of owning the ocean is high. RIP currents can draw swimmers and surfers into the ocean,” reads the Beach Hazard statement. “The waves wash people off the beach and rocks, covering small boats near the coast. They can leave the water due to dangerous swimming conditions or stay near the occupied lifeguard tower.”
Rock piers can be fatal under these conditions and should be avoided, the National Weather Service advises.
The Beach Hazard statement is valid until Sunday evening. Authorities recommend following the following advice when deciding whether to swim in rough conditions: “If you’re suspicious, don’t go out.”
For more information about RIP currents and other water hazards, visit the California State Parks Marine Safety webpage.
