Oside Jimc
Contributor
This had all the potential to end with a multiple fatality. The lesson learned here for me is know your limits and respect the ocean.
Retiree helps rescue trapped divers in La Jolla - SignOnSanDiego.com
Retiree helps rescue trapped divers in La Jolla
By Craig Gustafson
Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 4:22 p.m.
Retired Wall Street trader Jim Ridgway was on his morning walk Sunday along Coast Boulevard in La Jolla when he helped save the life of a stranger.
Hearing a cry for help, the 70-year-old man looked down the rocks toward the beach and saw a scuba diver trapped in a kelp bed about 40 feet offshore. Two other divers were struggling to reach her, but they, too, had become caught in a strong rip current.
Ridgway and three other onlookers, including two tourists, scampered down the rocks and began pulling the divers onto the beach as 5-foot waves crashed down on them. Ridgway got knocked down several times during the rescue and lost his sunglasses.
Lifeguards arrived just as the rescuers pulled the last diver to safety.
Ridgway, who moved to La Jolla when he retired 12 years ago, said he didnt think he did anything special.
I would hope other people would do the same thing if somebody was in trouble, he said. I think it was amazing that we had these people from out of town helping out.
The divers a woman in her 40s and two men in their 50s didnt suffer any serious injuries, although the woman was taken to a hospital as a precaution, lifeguards said.
San Diego lifeguard Sgt. Ed Harris said the divers were south of the Childrens Pool beach about 7:30 a.m. when the woman decided to head in. She got entangled in seaweed and couldnt free herself.
She was covered in kelp and getting pummeled by waves, he said. Her two companions couldnt reach her because of the strong current, and soon they needed rescuing as well.
The city only has a handful of lifeguards on duty at that time and two units were responding to other incidents when the 911 call came in. They arrived at the scene about five minutes later.
As for Ridgway, he said it was the first time hes stepped foot in the ocean this year.
Divers rescued in La Jolla
Divers rescued in La Jolla
StoryDiscussionDivers rescued in La Jolla
North County Times wire services North County Times - Californian | Posted: Sunday, October 3, 2010 9:58 pm | 1 Comment | Print
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efault font sizeLarger font size.LA JOLLA ---- Three scuba divers who had trouble getting out of the water at Wipeout Beach, near the Children's Pool, were rescued Sunday by three passersby, one of whom was 70 years old, a San Diego lifeguard said.
A woman diver in her 40s had trouble with difficult 4-foot waves pounding into rocks about7:30 a.m., and when her two male companions in their 50s tried to help her, they all became entangled in kelp, Lt. Andy Lerum said.
The woman was returning to shore because she was already tired, Lerum said. She was taken to a hospital to be evaluated.
He said the incident took place during a time of limited lifeguard protection at La Jolla beaches.
Three people who saw the divers struggling went into the water fully clothed and pulled them out, and all six were coming ashore at the beach just as lifeguards arrived about five minutes after being called, Lerum said.
The lieutenant said the other two rescuers were men in their 40s, and the third was 70.
Retiree helps rescue trapped divers in La Jolla - SignOnSanDiego.com
Retiree helps rescue trapped divers in La Jolla
By Craig Gustafson
Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 4:22 p.m.
Retired Wall Street trader Jim Ridgway was on his morning walk Sunday along Coast Boulevard in La Jolla when he helped save the life of a stranger.
Hearing a cry for help, the 70-year-old man looked down the rocks toward the beach and saw a scuba diver trapped in a kelp bed about 40 feet offshore. Two other divers were struggling to reach her, but they, too, had become caught in a strong rip current.
Ridgway and three other onlookers, including two tourists, scampered down the rocks and began pulling the divers onto the beach as 5-foot waves crashed down on them. Ridgway got knocked down several times during the rescue and lost his sunglasses.
Lifeguards arrived just as the rescuers pulled the last diver to safety.
Ridgway, who moved to La Jolla when he retired 12 years ago, said he didnt think he did anything special.
I would hope other people would do the same thing if somebody was in trouble, he said. I think it was amazing that we had these people from out of town helping out.
The divers a woman in her 40s and two men in their 50s didnt suffer any serious injuries, although the woman was taken to a hospital as a precaution, lifeguards said.
San Diego lifeguard Sgt. Ed Harris said the divers were south of the Childrens Pool beach about 7:30 a.m. when the woman decided to head in. She got entangled in seaweed and couldnt free herself.
She was covered in kelp and getting pummeled by waves, he said. Her two companions couldnt reach her because of the strong current, and soon they needed rescuing as well.
The city only has a handful of lifeguards on duty at that time and two units were responding to other incidents when the 911 call came in. They arrived at the scene about five minutes later.
As for Ridgway, he said it was the first time hes stepped foot in the ocean this year.
Divers rescued in La Jolla
Divers rescued in La Jolla
StoryDiscussionDivers rescued in La Jolla
North County Times wire services North County Times - Californian | Posted: Sunday, October 3, 2010 9:58 pm | 1 Comment | Print
Font Size
efault font sizeLarger font size.LA JOLLA ---- Three scuba divers who had trouble getting out of the water at Wipeout Beach, near the Children's Pool, were rescued Sunday by three passersby, one of whom was 70 years old, a San Diego lifeguard said.A woman diver in her 40s had trouble with difficult 4-foot waves pounding into rocks about7:30 a.m., and when her two male companions in their 50s tried to help her, they all became entangled in kelp, Lt. Andy Lerum said.
The woman was returning to shore because she was already tired, Lerum said. She was taken to a hospital to be evaluated.
He said the incident took place during a time of limited lifeguard protection at La Jolla beaches.
Three people who saw the divers struggling went into the water fully clothed and pulled them out, and all six were coming ashore at the beach just as lifeguards arrived about five minutes after being called, Lerum said.
The lieutenant said the other two rescuers were men in their 40s, and the third was 70.
