More Interesting Rescues

December 22, 1998, 1341 hrs: A Park and Recreation supervisor reported that there was a submerged vehicle in Mission Bay near the De Anza boat launch. Lifeguards resonded and found a deceased female inside the vehicle. Police were notified. A dive rescue team member hooked up lines to tow the vechicle out of the water.

December 21, 1998, 1447 hrs: Lifeguards at Ocean Beach requested a rescue boat to respond to a surfer who was refusing to leave polluted waters. Once the rescue boat arrived, the surfer paddled towards the beach.

December 14, 1998, 1240 hrs: The Dockmaster at Seaforth Marina in Mission Bay called lifeguards to report a significant fuel spill near one of the docks. A fire/rescue boat and crew were sent to investigate. The source of the fuel was traced to a particular vessel. The leak had stopped. The vessel owner was contacted and the coast Guard was notified.

December 7, 1998, 1904 hrs: A citizen called via 9-1-1 to report a flare sighting 1/2 mile off of Sunset Cliffs. Night Crew lifeguards responded in vehicles and a boat. A Coast Guard helicopter was also dispatched. Lifeguards found a distressed vessel inside the surfline and towed it to safety. Two males were aboard. San Diego Police were summoned as well as the US Border Patrol. They evaluated the situation and learned that the 2 men had police records, but noted nothing suspicious about the boat. Lifeguards then towed the vessel to South Shores. US Customs agents confronted the vessel's occupants, checked the boat further, and found significant amounts of narcotics behind a newly fiberglassed area. The 2 men were arrested and the boat and narcotics impounded.

December 7, 1998, 1501 hrs: A citizen called via 9-1-1 to report that there was a seal running loose in the alley off of Kennebeck Court in Mission Beach. Lifeguards responded to learn from witnesses that the disoriented seal had been in some yards facing Mission Bay. They reported that they walked the seal across Mission Boulevard to the Mission Beach boardwalk, where the seal made its way over the seawall, down the beach, and into the ocean.

November 30, 1998, 1515 hrs: A sailing vessel skipper called to report a grey whale stuck in a lobster trap line one mile west of the Mission Bay Channel. Lifeguards responded and contacted Sea World personnel who freed the whale from the trap.

November 18, 1998, 1520 hrs: A 17-year-old male surfer dislocated a hip at Pacific Beach. Lifeguards responded, provided medical aid, and summoned Paramedics for further treatment and transport to the hospital.

November 16, 1998, 1516 hrs: Police Communications relayed a report of a fall off of the cliff at Sunset Cliffs. Lifeguards resonded to find a suicide victim at the bottom of the cliff, at the waterline, lying atop a handgun. The Medical Examiner was summoned and Lifeguards, Police, and Firefighters extricated the victim.

November 14, 1998, 1451 hrs:Lifeguards at Mission Beach observed three people in distress off of the coast. Lifeguards entered the water to assist, but a male victim, who had been attempting to rescue 2 juveniles, slipped below the surface before he could be rescued. An extensive search was conducted with SCUBA divers and Sheriff's helicopter. The victim was recovered at 1534 hrs. At 1615 hrs he was pronounced dead.

October 17, 1998, 1335 hrs:A boater reported having found a person going under the water off of the sewage treatment plant at Pt. Loma. The boater reported that he was bringing the victim aboard. Lifeguards responded in concert with Coast Guard. Upon arrival, it was decided to hoist the victim from a lifeguard boat into a Coast Guard hellicopter and fly the victim to Scripps La Jolla.

October 10, 1998, 1615 hrs:A participant in a water skiing special event at Ski Beach sustained a major laceration when he was run over by a boat in the event. Lifeguards provided medical aid and summoned Paramedics for treatment and transport to the hospital.

October 9, 1998, 2256 hrs: Police Communications relayed a report of a person yelling for help at Lake Hodges. Night Crew responded, along with a Police helicopter. Upon arrival at 2230 hrs, a Park Ranger was located and lifeguards crossed the lake with the Ranger and Police to find an uninjured victim on the south side of the lake. The victim was rescued.

October 7, 1998, 1919 hrs: A Night Crew lifeguard on routine patrol observed a diver off of coast Boulevard signaling for help. The lifeguard entered the water and a second lifeguard responded as backup. A Police helicopter responded, but had to leave due to mechanical difficulties. Lifeguards rescued the diver.

September 20, 1998, 1148 hrs:Lifeguards received a call on VHF channel 16 reporting a 45' sailboat that had been dismasted 2 miles west of the Mission Bay entrance. A lifeguard rescue boat responded, located the vessel, and off-loaded the passengers, fearing that the most would fall on to the deck. Lifeguards escorted the boat to the reception dock and commercial assistance.

September 15, 1998, 1721 hrs:Lifeguards received a 9-1-1 call reporting a hanglider accident with injuries. Llifeguards from La Jolla Shres arrived to discover a hanglider had crashed in the window area of the cliffs, north of the Glider Port. The glider was 150 feet down the slope and the pilot was in cardiac arrest. CPR was initiated by citizens as rescuers set up for what would be a difficult extrication. Paramedics later determined that the patient had died at the scene and the victim was extricated.

September 14, 1998, 2015 hrs: San Diego Pollice dispatch notified lifeguards that several citizens had witnessed a flare sighting in the ocean west of Pacific Beach near Crystal Pier. Lifeguards responded in a rescue boat but were unable to locate any vessel in distress.

September 7, 1998, 1553 hrs: A 10-year-old male suffered a laceration to the head while surfing at North Pacific Beach. Lifeguards responded, provided medical aid, and summoned Paramedics for further treatment and transport to the hospital.

September 4, 1998, 1556 hrs: A Navy mine washed ashore at North Pacific Beach. Lifeguards cordoned off the area and summoned various explosive ordinance teams. The mine was determined to be a training mine with no explosives inside. The Navy removed the mine from the beach.

August 30, 1998, 1515 hrs: A 4-year-old female suffered an aspiration of water in a near drowning at Leisure Lagoon. Lifeguards responded, provided medical aid, and summoned Paramedics for further treatment and transport to the hospital.

August 27, 1998, 1210 hrs: A woman reported to the Tecolote Shores Lifeguard that a male had bothered her and approached her in the parking lot, trying to get into her car. Lifeguards responded and summoned Police. The suspect was located by Lifeguards at the Hilton dock. Lifeguards arrested the male. Police arrived and took over the case.

August 25, 1998, 1743 hrs: Two personal watercraft collided in the north Pacific Passage personal watercraft area. Lifeguards responded and summoned Paramedics and Police. One patient was transported by Paramedics with a leg injury and the other declined medical assistance.

August 20, 1998, 1055 hrs: A vessel skipper called via marine radio stating a 32-year-old male was suffering signs of decompression sickness. Lifeguards responded, provided medical aid, and summoned Paramedics for further treatment and transport to the decompression chamber.

August 15, 1998, 1200 hrs: A 78-year-old female fell on the boardwalk and suffered a head injury. Lifeguards responded, provided medical aid, and summoned Paramedics for treatment and transport to the hospital.

August 12, 1998, 0558 hrs: Coast Guard and Customs requested Lifeguards for a hypothermic person in the water at Bird Rock. Night Crew responded to find that the victim had fled from a Customs undercover arrest situation and was trapped at the bottom on the cliffs. Lifeguards summoned Firefighters to assist with a cliff rescue and the victim was transported to the hospital by Paramedics.

August 10, 1998, 1300 hrs: An infant fell 30' from a building near the Mission Beach Lifeguard station. Lifeguards responded, provided medical aid, and assisted Paramedics when they arrived.

August 8, 1998, 2302 hrs: Bahia Hotel security reported a drunk male in the water at Ventura Cove. Night Crew responded to find a very aggitated male, chest deep in the water. Police were summoned and took the male into custody.

July 24, 1998, 1149 hrs: Lifeguards at Tourmaline observed a 20' Scarab powerboat overspeed near the shore. Lifeguards responded in a rescue boat and issued a citation.

July 23, 1998, 2038 hrs: A five-year-old male suffered a burn to the chest at La Jolla Shores. Lifeguards provided medical aid. The parents elected private transportation to the hospital.

July 23, 1998, 1649 hrs: A 28-year-old male was submerged during a mass rescue at Mission Beach. Lifeguards responded and recovered the victim. He was brought to shore where CPR was initiated and Paramedics were summoned. The victim was taken to the hospital, but died.

July 20, 1998, 0945 hrs: A citizen called to report a dog trapped in the water at Goldfish Point. Lifeguards responded to find a snorkeler swimming the dog out of the water at the Cove. Lifeguards provided medical aid for injuries and summoned Animal Control for transport to a veterinarian.

July 18, 1998, 1644 hrs: A 25-year-old male lifeguard sustained a back injury while in an IRB at Ocean Beach. Lifeguards responded, provided medical aid, and summoned Paramedics for further treatment and transport to the hospital.

July 16, 1998, 1953 hrs: A citizen called via 9-1-1 to report a victim in the water yelling for help off of Devil's Slides. Lifeguards responded and rescued two victims via a rescue board.

July 12, 1998, 1357 hrs: A personal watercraft operator fled a lifeguard rescue boat off of La Jolla, refusing to stop. Lifeguards continued the chase and summoned a Police helicopter, as well as a second rescue boat. The female operator eventually yielded. She was escorted to Mission Bay, where a citation was issued.

July 12, 1998, 0703 hrs: A citizen called from a vessel off of Windansea Beach, via marine radio, to report a 37-year-old male experiencing shortness of breath. Night Crew lifeguards responded in a vessel and contacted the incoming vessel off of Mission Bay. Paramedics responded to lifeguard headquarters and the victim was transported to the hospital.

July 9, 1998, 1745 hrs: A 42-year-old female aspirated water in a near drowning at Bonita Cove. Lifeguards rescued the female but heard gurgling sounds when she breathed. Paramedics were summoned and transported her to the hospital.

July 7, 1998, 1625 hrs: A 40-year-old male was reported to have sexually assaulted 2 female juveniles in the water at La Jolla Shores. Lifeguards took the male into custody and summoned Police, who transported him to jail.

July 6, 1998, 0910 hrs: A male on a surfboard began waving for help off of Windansea beach. Lifeguards responded to find that he was fishing and had caught a thresher shark.

July 4, 1998, 0900 hrs: An off-duty Police Officer called Lifeguard Communications by cellular phone from his boat, to report that several apparent illegal immigrants were debarking from a vessel in the Mission Bay channel. Lifeguards dispatched Police Officers and responded in Lifeguard vessels. A total of eight illegal immigrants and two smugglers were taken into custody and turned over to the Border Patrol.

July 4, 1998, 1155 hrs: Police reported a personal watercraft accident at South Pacific Passage. Lifeguards responded to find a mountain bike rider who had jumped into the water and landed on his head. He had lost sensation in his lower extremities. Paramedics called Mercy Air and the victim was transported to the hospital.

June 28, 1998, 0546 hrs: Fire Communications forwarded a call to Lifeguard Communications about an 18-year-old female experiencing seizures at Black's Beach. Night Crew resonded in conjunction with Firefighters. The victim was found at the base of the Citizen's Trail and transported to the base of Black Gold Road by lifeguards. Paramedics transported her to the hospital.

June 25, 1998, 1925 hrs: A fight was observed by lifeguards at the foot of Ventura. Four suspects fled toward Bonita Cove. Lifeguards provided medical aid to the victim and kept a visual on the suspects, while informing Police of their location. Police arrested the 4 suspects and the victim was transported to the hospital.

June 25, 1998, 1258 hrs: A vessel with 3 people aboard was caught by a wave off of Children's Pool and capsized. Lifeguards rescued the 3 occupants and a lifeguard rescue boat towed the vessel out of the surf. A private tow was summoned for the boat.

June 23, 1998, 1645 hrs: A vessel operator called via marine radio to report an apparent water main break on West Mission Bay Drive. Lifeguards responded, confirmed the problem and advised Police and water officials.

June 20, 1998, 1418 hrs: A 2-year-old male aspirated water in a near drowning at Tecolote Shores. Lifeguards responded, provided medical aid, and summoned Paramedics for further treatment and transport to the hospital.

June 20, 1998, 0950 hrs: A citizen called via 9-1-1 cellular transfer from Police to report CPR in progress on a SCUBA diver at Hospital Point. Lifeguards responded, provided medical aid, and summoned Paramedics for further treatment and transport to the hospital.

June 17, 1998, 0856 hrs: Security from the La Jolla Beach and Tennis club reported 2 people fishing in the La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve. Lifeguards responded and issued citations.

June 15, 1998, 1508 hrs: A 17-year-old male suffered a head injury while surfing at Ocean Beach. Lifeguards responded, provided medical aid, and summoned Paramedics for further treatment and transport to the hospital.

June 14, 1998, 0856 hrs: A citizen called via 9-1-1 to report a kayaker who had lost hiskayak and was screaming for help off of the Clam. A lifeguard responded on a rescue board from La Jolla Cove and rescued the victim.

June 13, 1998, 1035 hrs: Citizens advised Lifeguards of 2 people in trouble at the foot of Newort Avenue. Lifeguards responded to find 2 people with labored breathing and possible obstructed airways; a possible drug overdose. Medical aid was rendered and Paramedics were summoned for treatment and transport to the hospital.

June 10, 1998, 1722 hrs: The skipper of a 21' sailing vessel, with 2 people aboard, called for emergency assistance as the vessel was disabled and approaching the surf off of Tourmaline beach. Lifeguards responded in a rescue boat and towed the vessel to safety. A private tow company took over.

June 8, 1998, 0907 hrs: Police Communications requested lifeguard assistance in removing a body from the beach at the foot of Felspar, apparently a suicide. Lifeguards responded and helped remove the body.