Man dies trying to save pair
A Ventura man died Tuesday morning trying to rescue his 4-year-old grandniece and her pregnant mother after the two, while strolling on a jetty during a beach outing, were swept by high waves into the ocean.
Timothy Barry, 54, was an assistant cameraman for KTLA-TV Channel 5 in Los Angeles.
Barry, who lived on Bangor Lane just two houses from the beach, ran to the water and dove into the surf to help the girl and her mother, his 24-year-old niece. The mother made it back to shore herself and the girl was rescued, but authorities said the circumstances were unclear.
The names of the mother and daughter were not released, but they were identified as Paso Robles residents.
The mother was treated and released from Ventura County Medical Center, but intended to stay with her daughter, who was to be kept overnight for observation, according to a family member.
Authorities said the first emergency call came in about 11:15 a.m., reporting that a woman and a child had been swept off a rock jetty. Waves were estimated at 12 feet high.
Lt. Jack Futoran, who supervises the 60 state lifeguards who patrol most of the sand from Oxnard to Carpinteria, said the child already was on the beach by the time rescuers arrived.
Barry, however, was unconscious and floating face-down in the water, Futoran said. He was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11:47 a.m., according to the county coroner’s office.
An autopsy was scheduled for today.
“It was a totally selfless act; he didn’t even hesitate to jump in the water,” said Sue Barry, his wife of 11 years. “I am truly going to miss him, because he was such a wonderful man, very giving.”
About three dozen relatives were visiting the Barrys at their home in the Pierpont section of Ventura on Tuesday when the accident happened, Sue Barry said. Timothy Barry recently worked on the Hollywood Christmas Parade and was scheduled to work the upcoming Rose Bowl Parade and a Clippers basketball game, Sue Barry said.
Barry is also survived by sons Josh, 25, and Chris, 32, daughter-in-law Kelly and a 4-year-old grandson, Conner.
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