A swimmer was pulled from the water in critical condition Friday, Oct. 24, after a large-scale ocean rescue near the Oceanside Pier, authorities reported.
Crews responded just after 4:20 p.m. to reports of a person who had entered the water near 600 The Strand North and hadn’t returned to shore, according to the Oceanside Fire Department. Lifeguards, firefighters and police arrived within minutes and coordinated a search of the shoreline and ocean.
Multiple rescue resources were deployed, including lifeguard boats, rescue watercraft and the San Diego County Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter. The missing swimmer was spotted from the air just south of the pier and was quickly recovered by lifeguards and firefighters.
Paramedics provided advanced life support on the beach before transporting the person to a local hospital, a Fire Department report stated. No first responders were injured in the rescue.
Officials said the incident highlights the importance of cooperation between Oceanside’s lifeguards, fire and police departments, as well as regional air support teams. The Oceanside Fire Department reminded the public to swim near staffed lifeguard towers and to stay aware of changing ocean conditions, which can be unpredictable even for experienced swimmers.
This news brief was written using artificial intelligence, then edited and fact-checked against source material.
