Teen drowns near pier

A teenager died Saturday evening after being swept up in a current driven by high winds near the 28th Street jetty, lifeguards said. The incident was the third major rescue operation by lifeguards in a week.

Lifeguard Battalion Chief Jim Turner said the teen, identified as 17-year-old Victor Wang of Claremont by the Orange County Coroner’s Office, was carried from the 28th Street area to the Newport Pier, where he was found unconscious just outside lifeguard headquarters.

“The current was so strong that he got into trouble at the 28th street rocks and he was swept all the way to the pier before we found him,” Turner said.

Lifeguard Brian Gray was contacted about 5 p.m. by a teenager who told him three other teens were stranded on the 28th Street jetty.

Gray and other lifeguards responded and were able to save two of the teens stuck on the rocks, but Wang couldn’t be located until he was found near the pier.

Wang was found unconscious and lifeguards tried to revive him until he was taken to Hoag Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Turner said conditions were tough for swimmers because the high wind caused waves to break every five or six seconds.

“Bathers only have the ability to dive under the wave come up, take a breath and dive again,” Turner said. “It’s very exhausting.”

Lifeguard towers are only regularly staffed during summer, but the lifeguards are beefing up their patrols for the spring break season.

Lifeguard Mitch White said towers near high traffic areas will be staffed if the weather is warm, but swimmers should be careful about going in the water.

“Off-season swimming, it’s pretty much at your own risk,” White said.

White said beachgoers should never swim alone, should stay where they can touch the floor of the ocean, and should avoid drinking alcohol before swimming.

White also suggested beach-goers flag down lifeguard patrols and ask about conditions before entering the water.

JOSH ADEN may be reached at (714) 966-4609 or at [email protected].