Deadly Riptide Claims Life Of 26-Year-Old Man
Surfers and swimmers, beware. A high-surf advisory is in effect in Southern California through Saturday, and one fatality has already been reported. A dangerous riptide took the life of a 26-year-old swimmer on Monday.
While watching the sunset off Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Huntington Beach on Monday, Patrick Kneebone - a local - spotted two swimmers struggling in the water. He called 911 around 5pm, and then, against police orders, he removed his clothes and jumped into the frigid Pacific to attempt to rescue the swimmers.
Kneebone was able to save one of the two swimmers. "I took my clothes off and pulled one guy in," he told KTLA. "I struggled to get the guy in. He was fighting me because he wanted to save his friend, and I made him come to the shore."
Rescue crews arrived shortly after Kneebone returned to shore with one of the swimmers. They searched for the other swimmer, William Griffith, for two hours before recovering his body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The rescued swimmer was treated by paramedics then transported to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.
Fire Captain Bob Culhane said, "The cold water is going to suck the energy out of people," in addition to the severe surf conditions. Swells between 6 and 10 feet are expected to hit the coasts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties through Saturday.
