California Surf Lifesaving Association Southwest Region - United States Lifesaving Association PO Box 366 - Huntington Beach, California 92648

Michael A. Beuerlein President

William J. Humphreys Jr. Vice President

TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT:

CSLSA Board of Directors Alphonso P. Pepito April 7, 2015 Heroic Acts and Special Presentations

There have been 3 applications submitted for review and voting during this Spring meeting.

Kai J. Bond Secretary

Robert E. Williams Treasurer

Robert C. McGowan Past President/Advisor

Michael G. Silvestri First Executive Delegate

Gustavo S. Avila Second Executive Delegate

Jay M. Butki

Nominations for consideration are as follows Aaron Pendegraft, Sonoma Coast State Lifeguard (MOV) : A family of 4 from Clearlake, CA was knocked over by a large wave on the shore of the beach during 20' surf. The father and son were able to pull themselves out of the shorebreak. The mother and 7 y.o. daughter were unable to pull themselves from the large extremely treacherous shorebreak. Pendergraft entered the 52 degree water without a wetsuit (no time) and secured the mother and daughter for approximately 30 minutes, swimming them out past the large surf and awaiting extrication by helicopter. Once the mother and daughter were brought to shore by the helicopter, Pendergraft was finally also brought to shore. Pendergraft was treated for hypothermia.

Third Executive Delegate

Casey T. Graham Fourth Executive Delegate

Christopher Connelly, Ventura State Beach Lifeguard (MOV) : During the biggest el Niño surf event in years, the Ventura Pier was being shattered by enormous waves that day, losing several pilings, I witnessed my co-worker Lifeguard II Christopher Connolly perform an extremely dangerous rescue under treacherous conditions at great peril to himself. We were toned out by Ventura Fire dispatch to a call of a surfer in distress north of Ventura at Faria Beach. Ventura County Fire had set up an incident command and had alerted the air squad. Ventura City Fire water rescue teams were also dispatched. Upon arrival we located the victim, notified the Incident Commander of our plan and lifeguard Connolly put his waterman skills into play to rescue the surfer. We drove our vehicle upcoast to use the swift longshore current to our advantage. Lifeguard Connolly strapped his fin-belt on, wrapped his rescue buoy around himself, and launched himself off the rocks with a rescue board (see attached photo). The extreme high tide and large surf made entry and exit very hazardous. Huge waves were bouncing off the sea wall and rocks forming large plumes of backwash (see video link). Luckily, he was able to time his entry correctly. Connolly was able to reach the surfer, who by this time was too weak to get back on his board. He wrapped the exhausted victim in his rescue tube, put on his fins, and jettisoned both his board and the surfer's into the rocks and began to guide him in, enduring large sets of backwash and waves, holding the victim close by and talking the victim through the ordeal. Upon arrival to the shoreline it was obvious that there was no exit point. Large surf was battering the rocks and both lifeguard Connolly and the victim had no easy way out. The large swell had stripped away most cslsa.org

of the sand and there was no beach for egress. Lifeguard Connolly, using the longshore current, and staying close to the shoreline but far enough away from the rocks, travelled down coast 3/4 mile (as measured in our truck odometer later) in an attempt to find an egress point. Ventura City and Ventura County firefighters at one point began to use throw bags with rope in an attempt to get both of them in (not in video, see attached second photo). However, one of our off duty lifeguards Brad Chisholm had scouted ahead and found a point of exit and he relayed that information to Connolly who was unable from his vantage point to see any sort of beach. Connolly let go of the rope and continued to travel down coast towards Solimar beach where he found a safe area to come in. A Ventura City firefighter jumped in for the last 25 yards to assist Connolly. It was one of the heaviest and most dynamic rescues I have seen in my career. The surfer was unhurt, but exhausted, and taken to waiting paramedics. I am proud to call lifeguard Connolly a coworker, and I know that if not for him, a life would have been lost that day. I hope you consider this recommendation. Lucy Granger (12) and Cameron Granger (14), HSBJG - (Heroic Act): Cameron and Lucy were exiting the water after a sunset body surf on a warm Fall day. AS they exited Cameron heard the shrieking and screaming of persons he identified to be in need of help. The screaming was coming from about 50 yards south of their location. Without hesitation Cameron sprinted to the area of the victims. Lucy (12 years old) then recognized that there were more than 1 victim and she re-entered the water and swam to the victims. Cameron pulled in the first of the three victims (14-15 year old females) and brought her to safety. Lucy made contact with a second victim and with the poise of a professional reassured the victim everything was going to be OK and the victim grabbed her arm and shoulder as they made their way under waves and back to safety. Cameron had again swam to the aid of the third victim and safely returned her to shore. At the completion of the rescue the sun had completely set. The lifeguards had been alerted to the swimmers in distress by a 911 call and on arrival made contact with the Granger siblings who informed them they had saved the 3 victims they were looking for. Awards to be presented this morning are as follows Ben Seigel - Heroic Act Andrew Huff - Meritorious Act Wyatt Colloty - Meritorious Act Butch Batten - Meritorious Award

Respectfully submitted, Alphonso P. Pepito and Bill Richardson Committee Chairpersons

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Name of Nominee Lucy Granger (12) and Cameron Granger (14) Is Nominee a Lifeguard? No Is Nominee a USLA Member? Don't Know If a USLA Member, Region?

If a USLA Member, Chapter?

If a Lifeguard, Agency?

If Non-Lifeguard, Occupation? Student If Non-Lifeguard Any Training? Yes If Yes to Above, Describe Junior Lifeguards at Huntington State Beach (California) Nominee's Street Address 21232 Breton Lane Nominee's City Huntington Beach Nominee's State/Territory California Nominee's Zip/Postal Code 92646-7600 Date of Action 10/17/2015 Time of Action Approx 630 AM/PM 3

PM Proposed Award Heroic Act (Non-Lifeguard Only) Incident Scene The location of the incident was in the area of Tower 11 at Huntington State Beach (California). The location of the rescue was approximately 50-100 yards offshore. The incident occurred at dusk on a Saturday evening, The conditions that evening were slight wind, water temperatures was about 70 degrees, surf conditions were approximately 2'-3', and the tide was going from a 5.3' high tide (12pm) to a .4' low tide (7:07pm). Describe Peril of the Rescued This was a multiple victim rescue (3 victims) performed by non-lifeguards. The time of day of the rescue was perilous as the sun was setting and there was limited visibility due to lack of light. The rescuers performed this rescue with no professional rescue equipment (though they did have fins). The victims had been in extreme distress for some time and approaching the victims with no buoy could have been hazardous for the relatively small size of the rescuers. The strength of the current were perilous as well and could have posed a challenge for the young rescuers as they made contact with the victims. Describe Action of Nominee Cameron and Lucy were exiting the water after a sunset body surf on a warm Fall day. AS they exited Cameron heard the shrieking and screaming of persons he identified to be in need of help. The screaming was coming from about 50 yards south of their location. Without hesitation Cameron sprinted to the area of the victims. Lucy (12 years old) then recognized that there were more than 1 victim and she re-entered the water and swam to the victims. Cameron pulled in the first of the three victims (14-15 year old females) and brought her to safety. Lucy made contact with a second victim and with the poise of a professional reassured the victim everything was going to be OK and the victim grabbed her arm and shoulder as they made their way under waves and back to safety. Cameron had again swam to the aid of the third victim and safely returned her to shore. At the completion of the rescue the sun had completely set. The lifeguards had been alerted to the swimmers in distress by a 911 call and on arrival made contact with the Granger siblings who informed them they had saved the 3 victims they were looking for. Evidence Links The rescue account was posted on the California State Lifeguards Facebook account and went "viral" reaching over 90,000 persons (including to date: 2223 "likes", 146 "comments", and 239 "shares". Media requests are pending and the local news has been scheduled for an interview this Wednesday. I will follow up if the media is involved. Evidence 4

granger_rescue.docx Evidence (2) jgrescue-2.jpg Your First Name Robert Your Middle Name Christopher Your Last Name Egan Email Address [email protected] Your Telephone 714 200 7891 Your USLA Region Southwest Your USLA Chapter Cal State Date Submitted 10/26/2015

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