Watsonville Teen Dies After April Ocean Rescue In Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, CA — An 18-year-old competitive soccer player who was rescued from the ocean in Santa Cruz last month succumbed to his injuries at a Walnut Creek hospital last week, according to the Contra Costa County coroner's office. Alejandro Lopez, of Watsonville, died at John Muir Medical Center after he was critically injured on April 25 at Its Beach, just north of Steamer Lane and Lighthouse Point.

Lopez had jumped into the ocean with a group of friends but began struggling within 75 feet of the shore, Santa Cruz fire officials said.Bystanders called 911 around 7:40 p.m. before an off-duty marine
rescue unit member with the city fire department saw the rescue underway as he was biking by.

The rescue unit member, who also works a firefighter-paramedic for an adjoining fire agency, started to administer CPR after he realized Lopez was not breathing and had no pulse, Santa Cruz fire Division Chief Jason Hajduk said. Arriving paramedics provided advanced life support to Lopez, who had entered full cardiac arrest on the beach.

Crews then carried Lopez in a Stokes basket up a steep set of stairs to the top of the cliff. Lopez was taken to Dominican Hospital around 8:15 p.m. The teen was an alum of Santa Cruz Breakers Academy, a competitive
soccer league. A GoFundMe page was established on April 27 to raise money for his medical expenses. The fund, to which almost 200 people had donated almost $14,000 as of Friday afternoon, will now also go toward his funeral costs.

Hajduk noted that in the springtime, Santa Cruz still sees wintertime ocean conditions, including big surf and cold water, despite the warm summertime beach conditions.

By Bay City News

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