4 swept into ocean at Redondo Beach breakwall, 1 dies

REDONDO BEACH — One man was killed when he and three friends were hit by strong waves and swept off the breakwall into the ocean Wednesday night, firefighters said.

Redondo Beach Harbor Patrol officers mounted a harrowing rescue about 11:15 p.m. when people in the nearby parking lot and marina area heard people screaming for help, Redondo Beach fire Operations Chief Mark Winter said.

Firefighters responded by land and Harbor Patrol officers on boats to the breakwall. They found two men and two women clinging to the bottom of the breakwall.

As rescuers prepared to go into the water, “a large wave came back over the wall, again knocking them back into the water,” Winter said.

Rescuers dove into the water, pulled the foursome onto the Harbor Patrol boat and took them to the nearby dock to meet paramedics. One man was pronounced dead. The other man and two women were taken to County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Carson. They were reported in serious condition.

Why the two men and two women were on the rocks late at night was not clear, but people routinely fish there, Winter said.

“It’s very dangerous obviously,” Winter said.

Although people often stay away during periods of strong high surf hitting the rocks, the breakwall can be more dangerous when the surf appears moderate with a high tide.

“You get one wave every three or four minutes,” Winter said. “They feel they can get out and that’s just not the case.”

A wave knocked a Harbor Patrol officer off the breakwall and into the water during the rescue. He was not hurt.

People are encouraged to stay off the rocks.

The victims’ identities were not immediately available.

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