Woman Rescued After 9 Hours of Treading Water
A 23-year-old woman who took a late night nude swim in Malibu ended up three miles offshore, treading water for nine hours until she was rescued Saturday, officials said.
“We would never expect someone to be alive floating at the surface after that length of time. She was very lucky,” said Los Angeles County Lifeguard Danny Douglas.
Misty Hillegas, who was suffering from hypothermia and severe muscle exhaustion, was listed in stable condition Saturday night at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center.
Hillegas, of Marina del Rey, walked from Will Rogers State Beach into the ocean sometime late Friday for a dip.
A restaurant worker saw her leave and called authorities about 11:30 p.m. when she did not return to shore.
Rescuers from the Los Angeles Police Department, county fire and the U.S. Coast Guard searched until early morning, but could not find her in dark, choppy waters. But at 8:30 a.m., divers received a call that Coast Guard rescuers had spotted the woman alive.
A Coast Guard spokesman said the El Nino weather pattern might have saved her life because usually cold October waters were warmed to the low 70s.
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