Malibu Lifeguards Earn Distinguished Service Medals

MALIBU, CA — The 2019 International Surf Festival (ISF) will honor a Captain and an Ocean Lifeguard Specialist from Malibu along with other Los Angeles County Fire Department Ocean Lifeguards for demonstrating "extraordinary and exemplary bravery in the line of duty," ISF announced.

These acts of heroism will be recognized at the ISF’s "Lifeguard Medal of Valor" dinner on July 31, the ISF press release said. The Medal of Valor, the Distinguished Service Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award and a Junior Guard Award will be presented at the event.

Distinguished Service Medals will be presented to Captain Ryan Addison and Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Tim Ryan, both from Malibu.

Here is what the ISF said about Addison and Ryan.

"On the night of November 8, 2018, during the Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Captain Ryan Addison and OLS Tim Ryan mobilized and organized residents of Malibu’s Paradise Cove community to defend their homes from the approaching fire. Through their knowledge and selfless actions, they managed to save hundreds of mobile homes that were threatened. Additionally, they bravely watched over the community for more than 24 hours. Once the fire passed, they performed welfare checks on residents until fire resources arrived to relief them."

Medals of Valor will be awarded to Ocean Lifeguard Specialists Shaun Gudmundsson, Ruben Carmona and Jon Van Duinwyk; Ocean Lifeguard Dick Douglas will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Ocean Lifeguard Bill Krauss will receive the inaugural Junior Lifeguard Award.

The Medal of Valor dinner has been sponsored by the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce since 1981, the press release said.

"The Chamber is honored to recognize these courageous lifeguards, and to have served as the venue for the Festival kick-off for the past 38 years," said Dominik Knoll, president/CEO of the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce. "We are fortunate to have such dedicated professionals protecting our beaches."