TV Crew Catches Seal Beach Lifeguards Rescuing Fisherman

A television crew filming a docudrama about lifeguards caught Seal Beach lifesavers in action last weekend.

The Weather Channel show Lifeguard! filmed local lifeguards rescuing a fisherman who fell and broke his ankle near the shore last Saturday, according to Nick Bolin, marine safety officer.

It was late afternoon when lifeguards saw someone waving them over, said Bolin.

“We got a complaint of someone in need of assistance off the west Anaheim jetty,” Bolin said.

Bolin said two lifeguards, Matt Maya and Jacob Urane, sprang into action.

“We treated him, got him off the rocks and stabilized him,” Bolin said.

They gave the man a splint, and he was transferred to a nearby medical facility.

And the Weather Channel camera crews filmed the whole thing.  

There is no word on whether the show will use the footage, and Bolin said he wasn’t sure what he was allowed to reveal about the show.

Lifeguard! Southern California, began  airing in February and films a number of Southern California beaches including Huntington Beach, Del Mar and Sunset Cliffs.

According to the Lifeguard webpage, southern California lifeguards save more than 10,000 lives a year and cover about 150 miles of coastline.

Other lifeguard news

• With school back in session, Seal Beach life guards are lowering their staffing levels, according to Joe Bailey, marine safety chief. There will, however, be "full deployment" over the next two weekends as the busy season winds down.
• From Aug 22 to Aug. 29 there were 41 rescues, 26 medical aids, two major medical aids, 26 stingray injuries and four boat rescues.
• Bailey reminds swimmers to always swim near a lifeguard.

For more information about the Seal Beach lifeguards, click here.