Former Lifeguard, Laguna Beach Resident Commended For Saving Distressed Swimmer

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A former lifeguard and current Laguna Beach resident received a commendation from the City Council Tuesday for his ocean rescue at Fisherman's Cove during a south swell this summer.

Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond presented Beshear with a certificate of recognition for his act of bravery at the Tuesday council session.

On June 10, a powerful rip current formed, and Bradley Beshear, 20, had not even intended to go into the water. Then he noticed a distressed swimmer unable to reach shore.

According to Bond, Beshear "entered the water with swim fins and a flotation device and brought the man back to shore."

The former lifeguard is currently a political science major at UC Irvine, in his senior year.

He said that he drew on his lifeguard experience from one summer when he was 16. Beshear said it was a neighbor in Boat Canyon who kept such equipment readily available in case of an emergency.

“I didn’t even plan on going in the water,” Beshear told the Daily Pilot in an interview on Wednesday. “The swell, it was so gnarly and so dangerous. I brought [the swim fins] down, because I had that past lifeguard training, and I was worried about everyone else who would want to go in the water.

“The flotation device — I’m just so happy it was there, and my neighbor had the foresight to leave that out for the swell and just keep it out year-round.”