41-Year-Old Pulled From Laguna Surf Dies; Powerful Waves Continue To Pose Danger

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A 41-year-old man died after being pulled from the surf at South Crescent Bay Beach in Laguna Beach Wednesday afternoon, police said.

The rescue happened at around 4:20 p.m., when city Marine Safety staff pulled an unconscious person from the surf.

The man had been bodysurfing at the beach leading up to the incident and went into cardiac arrest after being carried to shore, city staff said in a statement.

The incident follows a Surf Advisory issued by the National Weather Service Wednesday for all Orange County coastal areas, including Laguna Beach.

Crescent Bay Beach is located in North Laguna and attracts a number of skim boarders, skin and scuba divers, body surfers, body boarders and more.

Marine Safety Capt. Dane Doran told ABC7 Thursday that while the ocean is an attractive escape for people looking to escape the heat, the water can be treacherous due to high surf and rip currents.

"Our beaches in Laguna are beautiful but they can be very, very dangerous," Doran told the station. "Steps that people can take to stay safe are checking their local reports and talking to the lifeguard when they get to the beach. But again, aside from our safety message, our thoughts today and our focus is with the friends and family of yesterday's victim."

No further information was immediately available.

The death is the latest in a string of tragedies in Laguna Beach linked to the powerful surf pounding Orange County.

Earlier this month, a woman suffered a heart attack and nearly drowned when strong waves swept her and her friends out to sea while she was walking on Aliso Beach in Laguna.

According to ABC7, 49-year-old Teresa Tran met her best friends for a walk along Aliso Beach when the women were blindsided by the high surf.

The location was just two miles from the spot where a 5-year-old girl drowned after being swept into the sea by a strong wave in June.

Also, in August a 24-year-old Fontana man died at Crescent Bay Beach when he was swimming and "went under," according to Laguna Beach Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond.

A search was launched by Laguna Beach public safety staff, with assistance from a sheriff's helicopter, Newport Beach lifeguards and the U.S. Coast Guard, according to Laguna Beach lifeguards.

"The swimmer was located by the Marine Safety dive team and transported to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo where he was later pronounced deceased," Bond said.

City News Service contributed to this report.