Crime & Safety

Day 2 in Search for Missing Swimmer Ends, Divers to Resume Friday

Since July 1, Los Angeles County Fire Department lifeguards have made more than 50 ocean rescues, three of which were major.

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Penny Arévalo, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

Divers spent more than eight hours searching today for a young man believed to have drowned off Rancho Palos Verdes after getting into trouble while cliff jumping.

Joseph Sanchez, 18, of Long Beach got into trouble in the surging waters near Inspiration Point yesterday and was pulled onto some rocks by a friend, Toogee Zepeda, who then went to find help. But Sanchez was nowhere to be found when a search operation began about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Over the Fourth of July weekend, several other rescues occurred in the same general area, where jumping into a tidal pool known as Sacred Cove is popular.

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Today's search was done by divers with Sheriff's Emergency Services Bureau. Divers will resume looking for Sanchez's body Friday.

Public access to the area, including Inspiration Point and Portuguese Point, was restricted until sundown Sunday, the Los Angeles County Fire Department announced.

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--City News Service

Here is the statement from the Los Angeles County Fire Department:

Since July 1, 2014 Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguards have made over 50 ocean rescues, three of which were MAJOR, requiring helicopters and additional resources.

Some factors that have contributed to the increase in the number of rescues include: strong south swell, holiday weekend activity, a popular destination due to the Internet, and rock jumping at the location has been sensationalized via social media.Due to this increased activity, the multi-agency Abalone Cove Safety Task Force is implementing the following actions effective immediately:
  • Increase public awareness of potential dangers through media and signage.
  • Increase patrols in the area both land and marine-based.
  • Restrict Inspiration Point and Portuguese Point to the public until sundown on Sunday July 13, 2014

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