Swimmer Nearly Drowns in Big Surf
A 29-year-old West Hollywood man nearly drowned Wednesday in heavy surf off Leo Carrillo State Beach, Ventura County authorities said.
Doug Aitken was swimming just after 11:30 a.m. when beach-goers noticed he was in distress and was being swept out to sea, said Deputy Tim Hagel of the Ventura County sheriff’s search and rescue team.
Bystanders swam out to Aitken, who was not wearing a wetsuit. By the time they got him back to shore he was unconscious and suffering from hypothermia, Hagel said.
A sheriff’s helicopter landed on the beach, which is on the border of Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and emergency crews revived Aitken. He was flown to St. John’s Regional Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition Wednesday night.
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