In June, six divers found a pelvic bone and what appeared to be human flesh 20 feet below the ocean’s surface, but those remains have not been identified.
In March, Newport Beach Lifeguard John Moore rescued seven teenagers swimming along the Balboa Peninsula who got caught in a rip tide.
?
Coastal wreckage
Newport Beach Lifeguards and Coast Guard officials spent most of spring and summer collecting bits of marine vessels off the jetties and shoreline of Newport Beach.
A 60-foot cabin cruiser that crashed Aug. 11 on the west jetty at the Newport Harbor entrance was salvaged by a private company and towed down the coast to a private yard where it is was later repaired. The Crescendo, valued at $3 million, sank off the rocks while Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol rescued several passengers on board. Luckily, all six passengers made it safely off the boat.
?
Missing body found
A body found just off the coast of Catalina Island was identified as lost sailor William Eugene Ott, whose boat also crashed into the jetty rocks at Newport Harbor in April, officials said. The body was found in the waters just off Avalon, the island’s main town. Authorities were searching for Ott, 61, of Phoenix since his sailing boat crashed into the west jetty at the Wedge.
?
Spectacular swims
Newport Beach lifeguards are known for their excellence on the job, and many gleaming stars helped add to this reputation over the last year.
Retired Newport Beach Lifeguard Buddy Belshe was honored after 58 years of hard work. He received an unexpected retirement gift from his employers: A race began in his name, the Buddy Belshe Buoy Swim.
Next year’s race is scheduled for Aug. 20.
Another lifeguard, John Graass, decided to take the plunge and attempt a one-man crossing of the 21-mile channel from Santa Catalina Island to the shores of Palos Verdes.
