Lifeguards rescued 22 students from drowning in the Pacific Ocean recently while they were on an annual beach swim training in San Diego. The students were members of a swim team visiting the California coast to compete in a long-distance swim.
Unfortunately, a few of the students began to panic and their fear spread quickly. Sgt. Ed Harris with the San Diego Lifeguards told ABC News, “A couple of them started to panic which triggered other ones to get a little bit scared and it just snowballed into a mass rescue.”
San Diego Lifeguard Lt. John Sandmeyer added that they wouldn’t advise a group that size to go into the open ocean with the conditions present that day. Sandmeyer added, “You can be the strongest swimmer in a pool and not be used to chop in your face, not be used to the cold water when you go from a 76-degree pool to 59-degree ocean.”
The coaches and swimmers met with lifeguards before they headed out. While the lifeguards recommended the students postpone the swim, the coaches told them the students could handle the conditions.
Unfortunately, the students couldn’t handle it and lifeguards on surfboards, jet skis, and boats rescued 22 students from the water. Some students were suffering from shock while others experienced hypothermia. A 16-year-old girl was found unconscious and had to be taken to the hospital.
Thankfully, all of the students recovered well from their expedition. Harris noted, “Hopefully it’s a life lesson that helps them down the road.”
