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.”…