Los Angeles News

Fisherman Rescued After Being Swept Out To Sea

MARINA del REY, Calif.

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: A fisherman was swept out to sea while gathering bait off a jetty in Marina del Rey early Saturday. Lifeguards were able to rescue the man about half an hour later. (File)
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A fisherman gathering bait off a jetty in Marina del Rey got swept out to sea in rough conditions early Saturday but was able to cling to a communications buoy until lifeguards plucked him from the water.

Los Angeles County lifeguards rescued the man, in his wetsuit, off Dockweiler State Beach at approximately 2:30 a.m. He was taken to a hospital after complaining of a head injury, county fire dispatchers said.

Los Angeles County fire dispatcher Ed Pickett said the man apparently was gathering mussels for bait and the current took him out.

A cold Pacific storm was blamed for amplifying the surf Saturday and rip currents are reportedly strong, The National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory, warning of waves 5-8 feet on west-facing beaches and some sets up to 10 feet today. The water temperature is around 60 degrees.

The surf should subside some Sunday, but the advisory will remain in force until 10 a.m. that day.

On April 10, 2007 in Orange County, Sean Shungfei Yeh, 53, of Fremont, and girlfriend Yi Ni Kwong, 49, of Irvine, were swept off a jetty while fishing at Corona del Mar's Inspiration Point as waves up to 10 feet rolled in. Yeh's body was found a few days later, but Kwong's remains didn't turn up for months.