HUNTINGTON BEACH : Surfers Save Woman Below City Pier

Two long-board surfers rescued a young woman Wednesday night after she hurtled into the ocean from the 42-foot high city pier, state Lifeguard Supervisor Ken Kramer said Thursday. No Huntington Beach lifeguards were available because of budget cuts, Marine Safety officials said.

The two unidentified surfers, believed to be in their 30s or 40s, heard the woman’s screams and a splash, Kramer said. They swam to the woman, lifted her onto one of their boards and stood by until Kramer arrived on a surfboard that he commandeered.

The surfers escorted Kramer and the unconscious woman, still on one of their long boards, to shore, where she was treated by Huntington Beach paramedics and taken to Pacifica Community Hospital.

The woman, believed to be a 20-year-old resident of Garden Grove, spent the night at the hospital and was transferred to a psychiatric unit Thursday, a city official said.

“What (the surfers) did was no easy feat in the dark,” Kramer said. “They were very competent, and there is no question that they saved her life because the water was cold (58 degrees); it was dark, and the woman was unconscious.” Surf conditions were moderate, he said.

“It was a great example of surfers helping professional life savers,” Kramer said.

Once they reached shore, Kramer said, he helped to put the woman in a paramedic van. When he looked for the surfers, they were gone, he said.

Budget cuts made in November eliminated lifeguard protection in the city after dark in the off-season.

“Through the years there (have) been a number of suicide attempts at the pier,” said Marine Safety Lt. Mike Buerlein. “We like to think that if we have lifeguards on duty, we could save people.”

Last month, the body of a 26-year-old Irvine man washed ashore near the city pier. Authorities said there was no evidence of foul play, and the death was believed to be a suicide. Marine Safety Lt. Steve Davidson said it is unknown if the man jumped from the pier or entered the water at the beach.

There were apparently no witnesses to Wednesday night’s incident, and Kramer said it was unknown whether the woman fell or jumped.

Community Services Director Ron Hagan, who supervises city lifeguard operations, said Thursday that the city was “penny-wise and pound-foolish” when it cut lifeguard protection in winter months.

Hagan said his department was required to cut $250,000 from its budget.