Lifeguards busy with rescues over hot weekend

May 13, 2013 12 AM PT

Laguna Beach lifeguards made six beach rescues over the weekend after above-average temperatures brought out more beachgoers, officials said.

Main Beach hit 78 degrees Sunday, 10 degrees warmer than usual and 2 degrees higher than Saturday, Marine Safety Lt. Scott Diederich said.

Lifeguards rescued six people on Saturday and Sunday and answered more than 25 distress calls, despite having a limited staff, Diederich said.

Five were “surf” rescues — lifeguards pulling people from breaking waves. One was a rescue from a rip current.

Laguna had 14 lifeguards staffing four towers, compared to 52 workers at 30 towers on a summer day, he said.

The surf was a calm 1 to 2 feet and water temperatures averaged 64 to 65 degrees, Diederich said.

Eleven lifeguard towers will be staffed on Memorial Day weekend before full summer staffing begins the third week of June, he said.

Diederich advises swimmers to choose beaches with lifeguard-staffed towers.

Beachgoers can call (949) 494-6572 for surf conditions.

—Bryce Alderton