Interesting Rescues

The vast majority of incidents that are handled by the San Diego Lifeguard Service are routine in nature and typically self-initiated, such as water rescues of swimmers. The following incidents are of note due to their uniqueness.

June 15, 11:25 am: A citizen reported two rifles submerged in the water east of the north Ingraham Street bridge. Lifeguards responded and summoned police. Three rifles were found and taken as evidence by lifeguards and police.

June 14, 7:45 am: A charter fishing vessel skipper radioed to report a person aboard having had a seizure, with a head injury. Lifeguards responded from Mission Bay, packaged the victim, and transported to Mission Bay. Medics transported.

June 13, 9:04 pm: A police unit radioed Lifeguard Communications regarding a naked male possibly stuck on the cliff at Bird Rock. Lifeguards responded to find a male in the water, acting unusually. The male was removed from the water and medics summoned for a drug OD. Medics transported.

June 12, 7:00 pm: A citizen called via 9-1-1 cellular to report a 15-year-old male stuck on the cliff south of the Glider Port. Lifeguards responded and summoned medics and a police helicopter. The rescue was complete at 9:07 p.m. The victim had an injured leg and was transported by medics.

June 6, 6:40 pm: Police requested lifeguards for a rescue of a 51-year-old, intoxicated male who had fallen from his vessel in Quivira Basin. Lifeguards responded and rescued the male. Police transported to the hospital.

June 3, 9:12 am: The scuba tank of a 39-year-old male diver at La Jolla Shores exploded, causing third degree burns over 10% of his body. Lifeguards responded, provided medical aid, and summoned paramedics for further treatment and transportation to the hospital.

June 1, 1:52 pm: An 18-foot motorboat with two persons aboard was observed operating at high speed in the La Jolla Reserve. Lifeguards issued a warning, but the boater did not comply. A lifeguard rescue boat intercepted the boater off Pacific Beach and issued a citation for excessive speed and failure to comply with a lawful order.

May 28, 5:00 am: A skipper called via marine radio to report a diver boarding vessels in Mariners Basin armed with a spear gun. Lifeguards transported several police officers with tazers and beanbag guns to Mariners Basin using two boats. Eventually, five persons were taken into custody and one was transported to County Mental Health.

May 28, 5:24 pm: A citizen called to report a person had jumped from the Ocean Beach pier. Lifeguards responded in a rescue boat and rescued the jumper. Lifeguards then took him into custody for being intoxicated, transported to the dock, and turned him over to police for transportation to detox.

May 27, 12:52 am: A citizen called to report one victim in the water off the Ocean Beach pier and another who had jumped in to help. Lifeguards responded in a rescue boat from another call (above) and rescued both victims. One victim was found to be intoxicated and police were summoned. One victim was found to have aspirated water. Paramedics were summoned and transported to UCSD.

May 27, 11:13 am: Lifeguards on patrol were advised of a personal watercraft versus personal watercraft accident with injuries off Fiesta Island. Upon arriving at-scene, they found a 37-year-old male with back pain. Lifeguards provided medical aid, summoned paramedics for further treatment and transportation to the hospital, stabilized the victim, and transported to Fiesta Island. The citizen was found to have a fractured pelvis.

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