{"id":421200,"date":"2026-08-01T23:14:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T23:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/421200\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T23:14:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T23:14:16","slug":"la-lifeguards-rescue-nearly-2000-swimmers-as-swells-hit-beaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/421200\/","title":{"rendered":"LA lifeguards rescue nearly 2,000 swimmers as swells hit beaches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blistering heat and powerful hurricane swells<\/a> have created a perfect storm of dangerous surf conditions<\/a> across Los Angeles\u2019 beaches, leading to a record number of lifeguard rescues.<\/p>\n

Last weekend, the Los Angeles County Fire Department<\/a> Lifeguard division performed almost 2000 rescues between July 24 and 26, in what lifesavers have described as \u201cnuts\u201d and the \u201clargest number (they) can remember\u201d.<\/p>\n

On Saturday alone, LA County lifeguards performed 1049 rescues<\/a> across the region\u2019s 72 miles of beaches, while the weekend\u2019s overall total was 1950 ocean rescues.<\/p>\n

LA County lifeguards performed 1049 rescues across the region\u2019s 72 miles of beaches on July 25. Instagram\/@lacolaboard<\/p>\n

The eventful weekend has brought the County\u2019s tally of ocean rescues for the year to 8331.\u00a0 Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post<\/p>\n

They also assisted with 71,000 preventative actions across the three days.<\/p>\n

A preventative action is when lifeguards either go into the water but aren\u2019t required or educate a swimmer about dangerous conditions<\/a> in a bid to avoid trouble. <\/p>\n

Another 517 medical aids and 749 emergency vehicle responses were also conducted.<\/p>\n

Local Venice Beach lifeguard Damian, who has been on the job for four years, said last weekend\u2019s waves were \u201cunlike any (he\u2019s) ever seen\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had insane waves, really big rip currents all day long,\u201d he told The California Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn holidays, most of the time we get busy (with rescues), but it\u2019s usually not as busy (as last weekend) where we saw that amount of swell.\u201d<\/p>\n

The eventful weekend has brought the County\u2019s tally of ocean rescues for the year to 8331.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Local Venice Beach lifeguard Damian said last weekend\u2019s waves were \u201cunlike any (he\u2019s) ever seen\u201d. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post<\/p>\n

Lifesavers have described the amount of rescues conducted as \u201cnuts\u201d and is the largest number \u201cthey can remember\u201d. Instagram\/@lacolifeguards<\/p>\n

The fallout of hurricanes Genevieve and Fausto were behind the huge swells generating dangerous conditions for swimmers across the County\u2019s beaches.\u00a0 Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post<\/p>\n

Los Angeles County Fire Department ocean rescue Captain Pono Barnes said the fallout of hurricanes Genevieve and Fausto were behind the huge swells generating dangerous conditions for swimmers across the County\u2019s beaches.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the swell is from the eastern pacific hurricanes. It seems Genevieve\u2019s energy has arrived on our shores,\u201d he told The Post.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn summer, we have more south swell but the very large surf is from those two hurricanes.\u201d<\/p>\n

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These conditions, coupled with extreme heat, has contributed to the unusual spike in rescues, Captain Barnes said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t remember having a weekend like it\u2026it\u2019s incredible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe extreme in-land temperatures that have pushed everyone to the coast, the warm water, the hurricane surf \u2013 all these factors have played a part in the numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Los Angeles County Fire Department ocean lifeguard specialist Jake Miller added the number of rescues seen last weekend was \u201calmost a historic number\u201d for the region\u2019s lifesavers. <\/p>\n

517 medical aids and 749 emergency vehicle responses were also conducted between July 24 and July 26. Instagram\/@lacolifeguards<\/p>\n

Similar surf conditions are anticipated for beachgoers this weekend. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post<\/p>\n

Similar surf conditions are anticipated for beachgoers this weekend, with weather forecasts predicting breaking waves of eight to 12 feet along the California coast.<\/p>\n

Meteorologist Chris Nunley said Hurricane Genevieve was sending a powerful long-period southerly swell into the California coast from Thursday, which would continue through to Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the hurricane will remain far offshore, its swell will generate large breaking waves, dangerous rip currents, sneaker waves and periods of minor coastal flooding around evening high tides,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Sneaker waves can arrive after long periods of calm and suddenly rush much farther up the beach than expected, sweeping people and pets into the cold, turbulent ocean.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cStrong rip currents will also make entering the water extremely dangerous. If you\u2019re heading to the coast over the next few days, use extreme caution.\u201d<\/p>\n

Similar surf conditions are anticipated for beachgoers this weekend, with lifeguards on alert. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post<\/p>\n

Footage shared on social media captures some of the wild rescues performed by lifeguards over last weekend. Instagram\/@lacolifeguards<\/p>\n

Despite the meteorologist\u2019s warning, Captain Barnes encouraged beachgoers to head to the coast, noting lifeguards would be present to encourage safe swimming practices.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet down to the beach, but do so safely,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCheck in with the lifeguards to see what\u2019s going on, they will know how the surf conditions are changing as they will be watching it all day, and they can point out hazardous spots.\u201d<\/p>\n

The warning comes as footage shared on social media captures some of the wild rescues performed by lifeguards over last weekend.<\/p>\n

In some cases, lifeguards would use their own strength to pull swimmers out of danger by towing them with a flotation device that was strapped around their neck or body.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There was also the incredible rescue of a 10-year-old boy saved from the punishing surf at Santa Cruz beach by a 16-year-old lifeguard, with the footage going viral and even catching the attention of the White House.<\/p>\n

Nathaniel could have died if it wasn\u2019t for the efforts of Ryder Williams<\/a> who put his own life on the line to rescue the young boy who was struggling to swim in towering waves and a dangerous rip.<\/p>\n

Sadly, two college friends from Fremont weren\u2019t as lucky \u2013 the pair tragically killed when a freak wave<\/a> took them out to sea in early June.<\/p>\n

Swimmers should be on alert for sneaker waves, which could have dangerous consequences. Jonathan Alcorn for CA Post<\/p>\n

Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, died when a \u201csneaker wave\u201d dragged them from a Bonny Doon keyhole on Panther Beach in Santa Cruz County and swept them into the ocean.<\/p>\n

A sneaker wave is a powerful, unexpected rush of water that surges further up the beach than expected.<\/p>\n

The pair were sunbathing when the tragedy unfolded. <\/p>\n

A week later, a mother and daughter were seriously injured when another powerful \u201csneaker wave\u201d sucked the pair <\/a>out to sea at Baker Beach in San Francisco, just south of the Golden Gate Bridge.<\/p>\n

They were rescued by other beachgoers who pulled them to shore, before they were treated by firefighters and taken to hospital. <\/p>\n

Mr Miller said there was one simple task beachgoers could do to ensure they\u2019re not caught off guard by dangerous conditions when swimming at LA\u2019s beaches this weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want everybody to go have a safe day where they\u2019re having a fun time at the beach,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust by checking in and having a conversation with that person at the lifeguard tower is all we really want for swimmers just to do so that they can enjoy their day.\u201d<\/p>\n

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