Most dangerous beaches in Southern California revealed after summer swell hell

A cocktail of treacherous swells, hurricane surf, and unpredictable sneaker waves battered the Southern California coastline last month, triggering thousands of unprecedented rescues.

From the viral Santa Cruz rescue where 16-year-old Ryder Williams saved the life of 10-year-old Nathaniel Rai who was close to drowning in powerful waves, to Los Angeles lifeguards assisting almost 2000 swimmers in one weekend, these rescues were a brutal reminder of the ocean’s unforgiving power. 

The California Post has analyzed rescue numbers, reports of dangerous incidents and weather conditions over the July period to determine which counties have the most dangerous beaches.

7. Santa Barbara County lifeguards (Santa Barbara County)

Santa Barbara County lifeguards performed 10 water rescues in the month of July between the three county beaches: Goleta Beach, Arroyo Burro Beach and Jalama Beach.

These are some of the least dangerous beaches on the Southern coast.

6. San Diego lifeguards (San Diego County):  

During the July heatwave, a team of five lifeguards performed 107 water rescues at Windansea beach in one day.

Several more cliff rescues were also executed as daredevil swimmers dismissed cliff jumping rules and were injured in the process.

5. Oceanside lifeguards (San Diego County): 

Solid south swell, warm water, and a heat advisory brought dangerous conditions to San Diego beaches patrolled by Oceanside lifeguards in the last weekend of July. 

4. Newport Beach lifeguards (Orange County): 

A “dog-leg” rip current along one of the jetties in Newport Beach could have ended tragically on Independence Day if it wasn’t for the efforts of Newport Beach lifeguards.

The team performed a multi-victim rescue of at least a dozen people.

Meanwhile, on one Sunday alone, lifeguards conducted 100 rescues. 

3. San Clemente State Beach Lifeguards (Orange County):  

Approximately 96 per cent of ocean rescues involved rip current extractions as wild swells and strong currents caught swimmers off-guard. 

The San Clemente State Beach lifeguards also averted almost 8000 incidents thanks to the preventative actions they took to guide beachgoers toward safe swimming zones. 

2. City of Huntington lifeguards (Orange County): 

Over at the City of Huntington, tower staffing was doubled in high-density areas, additional rescue boats and jetskis were deployed and a dedicated offshore rescue swimmer who could be deployed from a police helicopter for incidents beyond the surf zone was assigned to meet operational demand. 

But even with these efforts, 152 rescues were required in a single day as well as four boat rescues and 14 missing person calls. 

1. Los Angeles County lifeguards 

An “almost historic number” of rescues in one weekend and relentless sneaker waves, has put Los Angeles County on the top of the list for most dangerous beaches.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard division easily performed more than 2600 ocean rescues in July alone, in what lifeguards described as “nuts” and the “largest number (they) can remember”.

Between July 24 and 26, LA County lifeguards performed 1950 rescues across the region’s 72 miles of beaches, while another 700 were carried out in the weekend after. 

The eventful month has brought the County’s tally of ocean rescues for the year to at leat 9000. 

Advice for staying safe for the remainder of the summer 

San Diego Fire-Rescue and Lifeguards Public Information Officer Candace Hadley urged those heading to the beach to check in with lifeguards to learn more about ocean conditions and to swim in front of a tower. 

“As locals and visitors continue to enjoy our city’s beaches this summer – and throughout the year – we are sharing a few tips to help them stay safe and prevent an emergency,” she said.

“Check in with Lifeguards to learn more about conditions and swim in front of a lifeguard tower. Use the buddy system – never swim alone, (and) supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present.” 

Other tips included how to get out of a rip and advice on sneaker waves.

“If caught in a rip current, remain calm, float on your back and move with the current or swim parallel to shore and signal for help,” Ms Hadley said. 

“Do not underestimate the water: Never turn your back to the ocean – waves can come without warning and sweep beachgoers into the surf or knock them off coastal bluffs or tide pool areas.” 

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