Things got kinda crazy out there. Photo: Braden Egli//Unsplash
Hawaii saw its first true winter swell this past weekend. While that’s always a notable event in itself, one of the highlights standing out from the strong northwest swell had everything to do with people finding themselves in over their heads, as Oahu Ocean Safety officials begged the public to “respect the ocean and heed the guidance of our lifeguards.”
The sentiment was a touch more blunt from at least one of those watermen, Jason Magallane, who shared a rant on Sunday afternoon about the danger unqualified surfers and tourists had been subjecting water safety to. His message was clear and to the point after rescuing people himself in heavy conditions Saturday: “You’re gonna come home in a box.”
If this all sounds overblown, Oahu Water Safety shared some data to prove that it isn’t. And if you were inclined to think lifeguards were spending most of their energy chasing after clueless tourists, they weren’t. Ocean Safety stated in a Monday release that most of its weekend rescues went down at Waimea Bay, and they were for surfers who’d broken boards, leashes, and were experiencing exhaustion. They also reported one incident at Freddieland in which Ocean Safety personnel rescued five surfers caught in a rip current that was taking them out to sea.
“As of 4 p.m. Sunday, there were 4,220 preventative actions taken by lifeguards to keep beachgoers safe and 14 rescues on the North Shore, according to Ocean Safety. On the West Side, lifeguards conducted 2,722 preventative actions, 15 rescues, 14 assists and treated an individual with first aid,” the release reads. “On Saturday, Ocean Safety officials conducted 7,603 preventative actions, 69 rescues and one assist on the North Shore, in addition to 2,300 preventative actions, two rescues and 14 assists on Oahu’s West Side.”
Some quick math:
-Two days on Oahu’s North Shore and Westside
-16,845 combined preventative actions to keep beachgoers safe
-100 combined rescues
