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SAN PEDRO HERO: Michael Alba, a third-generation longshoreman and local surfer, rescued a fisherman swept out to sea off Pt. Fermin on May 17th. SAN PEDRO LONGSHOREMAN RESCUES FISHERMAN FROM SEAS Michael Alba, a third-generation longshoreman and local surfer, rescued a fisherman off of Palos Verdes on May 17th, after the man had been swept out to sea by crashing waves and a riptide. Three fishermen had been knocked off the rocks by waves near Point Fermin just after 5 pm on Sunday, May 17th. Two managed to scramble out of the water, according to city fire officials, but one got pulled out to sea by powerful currents. "Some guy came up yelling and I saw a guy caught in a riptide," said Alba, who had been surfing at a spot known as Mossi's. "I immediately realized I'm going to have to help this guy." Alba paddled out and used his board as a flotation device. "The guy was obviously tired, all he could do was bearhug the board," said Alba, who could not return the fisherman to the rocks, due to crashing waves. Alba swam for 20 minutes towing the board with his leash. "We got to the shore and the guy just collapsed." Alba's brother, John, watching from the nearby cliffs, led firefighters down to the beach where they called for a helicopter to evacuate the fisherman, who was lapsing in and out of consciousness. The fisherman was airlifted in stable condition to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, said d'Lisa Davies of the Los Angeles Fire Department. "Thank God this story has a happy ending," said Alba. "Last I heard he was okay. That makes me happy." 
COMMUNITY BRIEFS... SAN PEDRO: Waves knock fishermen into Point Fermin waters May 18, 2008 -- Three fishermen were knocked off rocks by waves Sunday at Point Fermin, and one had to be airlifted to a hospital, a city fire official said. The fishermen got in trouble around 5:30 p.m. near 807 W. Paseo del Mar, said d'Lisa Davies of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Two of the men were able to get themselves out of the water and the third man was rescued by a surfer, Davies said. "A surfer put him on his board and brought him to the shore," she said. He was airlifted in stable condition to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, she said. - From staff and news services |