Missing swimmer rescued on Venice Beach rocks after overnight search by lifeguards
A swimmer who entered the ocean near Venice Beach early Monday was found alive on nearby rocks after a brief search by the Los Angeles Fire Department and lifeguards.
Around 1 a.m. on Monday, a swimmer entered the ocean at Venice Beach’s 1500 block of Ocean Front Walk and failed to surface, prompting onlookers to alert emergency services. The Los Angeles Fire Department and local lifeguards conducted a sweep of the beach, locating the man on adjacent rocks roughly 20 minutes after the search began. He was quickly rescued, placed on a gurney, and taken to a nearby hospital where he suffered only minor injuries.
Officials have not released details about the circumstances that kept him from returning to shore. The rescue occurred amid unusually high waves that ripped sections of the boardwalk, flooded streets, and damaged sand berms, prompting city building officials to assess structural damage to nearby properties. Similar flooding impacted coastal neighborhoods in Long Beach and Seal Beach, where residents worked to clear water-logged debris.
Why it matters
The incident underscores beach safety risks and the importance of rapid emergency response during severe coastal conditions.
How this story developed
- Aug 31 Tropical storm warning issued for Louisiana and Texas coasts as system nears Gulf
- Sep 1 Edouard was upgraded from a depression to a tropical storm and now carries a hurricane watch for parts of the Texas and Louisiana coasts.
- Sep 1 Edouard reached the Gulf Coast near Johnson Bayou and tracked westward into southeastern Texas.
- Sep 5 Although Hurricane Marie will remain far offshore, it will bring rain, strong surf and hazardous rip currents to Southern California over the Labor Day weekend.
- Sep 9 Evacuations of about 20 Long Beach homes were ordered after storm‑driven surf damaged the seawall.
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