Authorities halt search for swimmer

Sue Doyle

NEWPORT BEACH -- A San Bernardino man who was pulled out to sea by a

powerful riptide was still missing after the three-hour search for him

ended Sunday night.

Two boats and nine snorkelers scanned the ocean at 56th Street where the

39-year-old man was last seen swimming with three others around 5:17 p.m.

Authorities saw the man just as a wave crashed on his head. He hasn’t

been seen since, said Randy Scheerer, battalion chief for the Newport

Beach Fire and Marine Department. Authorities did not release the man’s

name.

Authorities learned of the missing man after they rescued three others

who swam with him. They were all caught in the riptide.

Lifeguards brought two people to shore. That’s when the survivors,

between breaths, told authorities about the missing man. Another swimmer

saved the third person. The survivors were Wesley Dodd, 14, Martha Dodd, 17, and Mary Windship, 27, all from San Bernardino.

Wesley Dodd and Windship were transported to Hoag Hospital, treated and

released. Martha Dodd did not require any treatment.

Wesley Dodd and Windship later returned to the same spot on the beach

where just hours before they came with a group of friends to enjoy the

day.

“It threw me around like garbage. I tried to swim and wasn’t getting

nowhere,” Wesley Dodd said of the riptide.

Windship stood in shock and held her hand in her long hair. Tears

streamed down her face.

“I was about to let go. I couldn’t breathe,” Windship said.

But a red flag waved all day to alert swimmers of extremely dangerous

conditions. Lifeguards made 57 rescues Saturday and an estimated 50 more

on Sunday. All rescues were related to the high tide and strong riptide,

said Lt. Jim Turner of the Fire and Marine Department.

Riptides have a notorious reputation this season.

Last month, Armando Roman Briseno, 17, drowned after a powerful current

him away as he swam near the Newport Pier. The body of the Santa Ana teen

washed ashore at 22nd Street.

Scheerer said it was uncommon for a body to float to shore as quickly as

Briseno’s.

If missing people aren’t found within the first couple of hours, they

typically aren’t located for a week or so, Scheerer said.

Local surfer Ronny Nelson stood flabbergasted at the scene. He couldn’t

believe his eyes.

“I was out today, and anybody who doesn’t know what they’re doing could

easily drown,” Nelson said.