Three teenage surfers were honored this week by the Laguna Beach City Council for their role in saving a family caught in a dangerous rip current at Treasure Island Beach over the summer.
The rescue happened around 7:41 p.m. on July 18, when Laguna Beach Marine Safety and Fire Department crews responded to reports of multiple swimmers in distress at the south end of the beach. According to Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond, lifeguards arriving on scene found several people struggling in the water, including a semi-conscious swimmer who had nearly drowned.
Before lifeguards reached the group, three surfers—Mason Davis, 16, Levi Mauga, 19, and Tommy Salha, 15—had already paddled into the rip current to assist. The teens kept the most critical patient afloat until lifeguards arrived, helping stabilize the victim and support others in distress.
“Their early intervention made a significant positive difference in the outcome of this emergency,” Bond said during Tuesday night’s council meeting. “Thanks to the coordinated efforts between our marine safety team and these courageous young men, all victims were successfully brought back to shore and received the necessary medical care.”
The semi-conscious patient was later transported to Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, where they arrived conscious and breathing, officials said.
A video of the rescue, shared by Laguna Beach Lifeguards on Instagram, shows lifeguards and surfers working together to bring multiple swimmers back to shore.
Bond added that while lifeguards are trained to respond to these situations, the teens’ quick action helped bridge the critical gap before rescuers could reach the family. “We, as lifeguards, sometimes depend on people in the water to assist us in these rescue efforts, and this was just one of those cases,” he told the Los Angeles Times.
For their bravery, Davis, Mauga and Salha were presented with commemorative medallions at the Sept. 23 City Council meeting.
Laguna Beach has tentatively scheduled an ocean lifeguard academy in late December, and seasonal testing is available year-round for those interested in pursuing marine safety careers. Bond even encouraged the three surfers to consider the job themselves, telling them, “Lifeguard tryouts are just around the corner — you guys would be great candidates.”
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