Oceanside Lifeguard Receives Medal Of Valor

OCEANSIDE, CA – An Oceanside lifeguard was recognized Monday for risking his life to save a boater last year.

Gov. Jerry Brown and Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra honored David Wilson of the Oceanside Fire Department with the Public Safety Medal of Valor during a ceremony at the state Capitol.

In July 2016, Wilson rescued a man whose boat crashed into a jetty in Oceanside Harbor. The victim was barely conscious and wedged between two boulders. Conditions were hazardous at the time, with waves striking and submerging the man under water.

Despite relentless waves, Wilson dove under water and swam into the rocks to free the man's legs. He was repeatedly knocked down, and sustained cuts and bruises from the rocks.

"You were vulnerable but that didn’t stop you; you exercised real courage," Brown said. "That's what we recognize and reward. That’s what we’re doing today."

The Public Safety Medal of Valor is awarded to public safety officers for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. The attorney general's office receives nominations from public safety agencies for the award. A board reviews nominations and makes a recommendation to the attorney general.

"The hero we honor today, David Wilson, went far above the call of duty," Becerra said. "We thank him and all our public safety officers whose quiet bravery and grit make our communities safer."

Photo: Gov. Jerry Brown and Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra honor Lifeguard David Wilson (center). Credit: Dionne Grubbs/California Department of Justice.