SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — An intense rescue along the waters of a California beach was captured on video.<\/p>\n
It happened at as large swells contributed to at least 25 rescues across Santa Cruz County, officials and witnesses said.<\/p>\n
The rescue at Seabright State Beach near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk was captured on video by witness Scott Vander Dussen, who said he watched a lifeguard rush into the water to help the boy.<\/p>\n
“I saw the lifeguard just run straight out into the water, and, you know, he dove in, setting fear aside,” Vander Dussen said.<\/p>\n
Video of the rescue shows a lifeguard battling powerful waves while working to bring the boy to safety. According to Vander Dussen, conditions appeared to change rapidly.<\/p>\n
“And I think in this situation, the young man was already out there. I don’t think he was bargaining for this. It looked like those waves changed quickly, and he just got overpowered and swept out,” he said.<\/p>\n
At one point, beachgoers attempted to assist but were also hit hard by the waves.<\/p>\n
“We appreciate their eagerness to help, but often we find that that leads to more problems,” said Byran Kine, a lifeguard supervisor for Santa Cruz State Parks.<\/p>\n
Kine said the surf has been especially challenging.<\/p>\n
“It is really, really strong surf right now, so even for us, it’s really challenging, in the knee-to-waist-deep range when there’s so much water moving,” he said.<\/p>\n
Vander Dussen described the lifeguard’s efforts to keep the boy from being pulled back into the water.<\/p>\n
“The lifeguard just had a gorilla grip on that young man, held him from getting swept back out,” he said.<\/p>\n
The rescue was one of at least 25 reported Saturday in Santa Cruz County as massive swells pounded the shoreline. In this case, a second lifeguard helped bring the boy safely onto the beach.<\/p>\n
“They were trying to help, but then ultimately another lifeguard was able to assist, and I think the two of them did the lion’s share of the work,” Vander Dussen said.<\/p>\n
All involved made it safely to shore. Vander Dussen said the outcome could have been much different without the lifeguards’ actions.<\/p>\n
“If the lifeguards were not out there, it would have had a different ending. He was in desperate need of help, and those two lifeguards went in and did what needed to be done,” he said.<\/p>\n
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