My 13 year old son and 13 year old nephew almost died yesterday while swimming in Newport Beach. My wife warned them about the riptides, but I was out of town on business, so I was not there to keep an eye on them. They went to the beach with my brother in law’s family.
They weren’t in deep water when all over a sudden a huge wave carried them out into deep water. Luckily the lifeguards were on the job. My brother in law tried to swim out but couldn’t – and the lifeguards took over.
By the time the lifeguards got to my nephew he was a speck in the water, according to my sister in law. They hauled him and my boy to safety.
Monte Valentin, 50,wasn’t so lucky. He was slammed into the rocks at the Wedge by strong current and massive waves, and he later died, according to the O.C. Register.
“He had been body surfing near the Wedge when a set of waves up to 20 feet high came rolling through, throwing the surfer into the rocks, Schulz said.”
H/T to the OC Weekly for finding the video I included above, which shows the tide conditions in Newport yesterday.
THANK YOU to the lifeguards who saved my son and my nephew! God bless you guys for doing a great job and risking your necks every day.
The Thievery Corporation tune is an eerie companion to the video.
Yes it is! Interesting choice of music… Haunting.
I was there yesterday morning watching the waves and the body surfers. It was intense. I grew up in Newport and watched the Wedge during many a big swell. One set yesterday was by far the biggest i had ever seen…truly amazing!!! about an hour later a bodysurfer died. I was glad that my young children were not there any longer to witness that. My thoughts and prayers to Monte Valentin.
And yes…thanks to the Newport Beach lifeguards for being there every moment to protect all of those who went out. and thanks to NB paramedics and Coast Guard who were all present yesterday morning as I safely watched the powerful surf with my family.
By the way…if you ever get a chance to see the Wedge like it was breaking yesterday…please go. You will probably never see the power of nature so fierce and beautiful.
I’m always amazed how many teen boys survive to become adults.
#4,
It is not until we are older that we appreciate how precarious the human condition is.
We were lucky this time…
Dear Monte, I will miss you. Thank you for your guidance and your help. You were an amazing person and right about everything. God bless you and may you rest in peace.
The Ocean is an awesome mother goddess that has the power of life and death over us all. Having lived in Newport Beach since 1952….we have seen many die and and many paralyzed for the rest of their lives. Their is no Public Service Announcement or Published Notice that will take the place of parents that watch their children or those that respect the power of the sea.
Having board surfed in California, Hawaii and Mexico……the worst harm that ever came to me was body surfing at Little Corona. The Lifeguards had plainly foisted the Red Flag and warned that all but the great athletes should refrain from broaching the 18-20 waves. I went out with the other three idiots…..and within two minutes was hit directly on the top of the head by one of these behemoths. The wave drove my head directly to the bottom and my face was pushed into the rough sand. When I came up after a seemingly endless “They were Giants moment!” blood was streaming down my face and I could not see. Many before in Little Corona history had not been so lucky. They had hit their heads or drowned from being unable to hold their breath as long as they needed to. The Lifeguard came to my aid….as I staggered out of the water unable to see where I was. The crowd gathered and several over-reacted and said: “Look…he is blind!” Well, luckily the massive sand cuts on my eyelids did not penetrate eyeball. Luckily my eyes were closed when I hit the bottom. After some Hydrogen Pyroxide application by the Lifeguard…he said: “Hey, this is no big thing!”
I quickly responded: “To you maybe…I am totally spun out and I have a terrible head ache!” On Big Beach in Corona Del Mar….several people every year in the 60′ and 70’s were hauled away as either paraplegics or fully paralyzed from diving into shallow water and hitting their heads. The Ocean is to be respected!
Linda,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Monte. It is always sad to see a life cut short in such tragic fashion. May he rest in peace.
Glad the kids are safe. What is it about “stay out of the ocean, the waves are too treacherous” messages that were all over the media that your brother in law did not understand? A really bad choice on where to take the family this weekend. Thank goodness for the lifeguards – I hope no one attacks their pay and benefits any time soon, but being public sector employees that may be too much to hope for.
My heart goes out to Monte and his family. I had the privledge of knowing Monte through a work relationship and I have to say that he was the most amazing people to work with. He was one of those people that the sound of his voice could lift your spirits and brighten your day no matter what was going on. He will be missed.
Bizzare that Monti died at the same place that I’d first hung out with him over 20 years ago, at least he died doing something that I’d known him to be very fond of…