OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Lifeguards in Oceanside say this Labor Day weekend has been one of their busiest of the year, with dozens of rescues and even more close calls in the water.
Crews reported 59 rescues Sunday morning alone during the Oceanside Masters Swim Club’s annual pier swim. Since Friday, lifeguards have tallied at least 28 additional rescues while towers were open.
Tyler Berry, a longtime lifeguard and now captain, said strong currents and crowded conditions kept teams busy.
“We did have quite a few people that got swept down,” Berry said. “We had a few that got very, very close to the pier.”
Red flags flew along the shore throughout the weekend, warning swimmers of dangerous rip currents. Lifeguards say the risks are greater for people with limited swimming ability.
Stingrays were another hazard. Crews responded to around two or three stingray stings per day over the holiday weekend.
Berry said beachgoers need to be prepared before heading into the ocean.
“There would be a current that rips out to sea that can actually pull you out. If you panic, that’s where it becomes a real issue where a lifeguard usually has to intervene,” he said.
Lifeguards are urging swimmers to stay alert and know their limits as the summer season winds down.
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