Newport Beach Lifeguards Make Over 350 Rescues on July 4

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Lifeguards in Newport Beach had a busy Fourth of July, making over 350 rescues on Friday alone.

In the most serious rescue, Newport Beach lifeguards said they rescued 10 swimmers from a "monster rip current."

Video shot from a Huntington Beach police helicopter shows a rescue boat motoring out to save the stranded swimmers.

Meanwhile, Huntington Beach lifeguards said they performed 152 rescues on Independence Day. City officials say they experienced large crowds and consistent surf over eight feet on July 4, prompting an aggressive prevention strategy to help keep beachgoers safe.

"To meet the operational demand, the department doubled tower staffing in high-density areas, deployed additional rescue boats and jet skis, and assigned a dedicated offshore rescue swimmer capable of deploying from the police helicopter for incidents beyond the surf zone," officials said.

"The powerful surf produced rip currents that were pulling hundreds of yards offshore into deeper water," Huntington Beach Fire Department Marine Safety Division Chief Trevor McDonald said. "It was common to see large wave sets roll through, followed by multiple monster rip currents forming at once and pulling water -- and swimmers -- rapidly out to sea."

Authorities were also warning of dangerous rip currents and elevated surf at Los Angeles County beaches through Sunday night, including Catalina, with an increased risk of ocean drowning.

Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea, and waves can wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats near shore.

Copyright 2025, City News Service, Inc.