Laguna Beach marine safety advises caution ahead of high surf over Labor Day weekend
- Share via
Laguna Beach’s unofficial close of summer is expected to meet rocky waters, with public safety officials warning of an expected south swell event over Labor Day weekend.
Those conditions, including surf estimated to reach up to 10 feet, could begin Saturday and continue through Monday, Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond said via city social media channels.
While large waves could excite surfers, Bond called on beachgoers to do the prudent thing and check with a lifeguard before entering the water. He also advised swimmers to know their abilities.
“It’s really important to understand that incidents can occur even when you’re walking across the sand,” Bond said. “You have to pay attention to your surroundings and understand what you’re able to do.”
Laguna Beach has experienced three fatal incidents at its beaches this summer.
On June 11, authorities recovered the body of 5-year-old Amada Mia Brown, of San Bernardino. An ocean search and rescue operation spanned more than 24 hours, after the girl and her mother and brother were swept out to sea by powerful water conditions near Treasure Island Beach. The child’s body was found during an aerial survey of the coastline.
On Aug. 3, Moustafa Gulzarzada, 24, of Fontana, died in an apparent drowning while swimming at Crescent Bay.
Weeks later, on Aug. 26, a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at a local hospital after lifeguards pulled him unconscious from the water at South Crescent Bay. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department coroner’s office identified the deceased as Justin Anand Shahani, of Laguna Beach, the Times reported.
“The lifeguards are there to help you,” Bond advised in this week’s social media post. “We’re giving you advice and giving you some education, so you understand what the ocean conditions are like, so you can have a safe and enjoyable day.
“Sometimes, that may be just looking at the waves from the sand, particularly when the waves are large and we have these red-flag conditions.”
High surf and wave activity have recently taken a toll on local infrastructure. City officials closed the Aliso Beach west parking lot this week after erosion compromised corners of the lot and endangered some nearby palm trees. City staff and crews removed electrical lines mounted to the at-risk trees and moved sand to backfill the eroded edges of the lot.
Weather forecasts show temperatures will remain moderate — with highs in the mid-to-upper 70s — as Laguna Beach awaits the crowds for the three-day holiday weekend. There is a chance of rain showers on Sunday.
