4 people rescued after 2 watercraft overturn in Newport
Newport Beach lifeguards and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol rescued four people who were flipped from two personal watercraft in Newport Beach on Saturday afternoon.
Six watercraft were traveling along the coast near Cameo Shores around 5 p.m. when two flipped over. Three riders climbed up a nearby rock for safety and were rescued by lifeguards, said Newport Beach lifeguard Battalion Chief Mike Halphide. Another person was rescued from the water.
The three people who climbed up the rock suffered some cuts and scrapes from their climb, but no serious injuries were reported, Halphide said.
Join the conversation on Facebook >>
The Harbor Patrol towed the two overturned watercraft and took one person, who was having an asthma attack, to a medic.
Saturday’s incident was one of several in recent months in which lifeguards have rescued riders of personal watercraft in Newport Beach.
A few weeks ago, lifeguards had to pull a watercraft back into the ocean after the operator lost control just south of the Newport Pier and it plowed through the surf line.
On June 26, lifeguards at the Wedge pulled two people from the water who were pounded by massive waves that threw them off their watercraft.
Halphide said the incidents prompted authorities to speak with watercraft rental operators in Newport Harbor, who told them they were emphatic about explaining the rules to renters.
Vessels, including personal watercraft, are required in most areas of Newport to stay 1,000 feet offshore. But sometimes renters don’t listen to warnings about getting closer to shore where waves break.
“People get excited being on a watercraft that can go 40 or 50 mph,” Halphide said. “Sometimes they find themselves getting into trouble. We recommend people stay offshore.”
--
Hannah Fry, hannah.fry@latimes.com
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
