Waves send four to hospital

Alex Coolman

NEWPORT BEACH -- Crashing waves sent four area beachgoers to the

hospital with possible spinal injuries Sunday afternoon, lifeguards said.

The injuries occurred between noon and 4:30 p.m. at the Wedge, 15th

Street and in two cases, the Balboa Pier, said Jim Turner, lifeguard

captain with the Newport Beach Fire Department.

The identities of the injured swimmers, who were taken to Hoag

Hospital, were not released Sunday. The exact nature of their injuries

had not been determined.

This weekend was supposed to see large surf pushing into local

beaches, a forecast that turned out to be overly optimistic. As it turned

out, the surf was not more than 4 or 5 feet high.

But Turner said the smaller waves posed a threat to inexperienced

beachgoers.

“When the surf gets really big, a lot of the average swimmers will

stay out,” he said. “And when it’s smaller, our number of injuries is

reduced. But we get into a size surf here where it’s very inviting yet

it’s strong enough that inexperienced swimmers or bodysurfers can become

injured.”

Spinal injuries can be caused when a wave slams a bodysurfer into the

sand on the ocean floor, Turner said. They can also occur when swimmers

dive into the sand from the beach or from a jetty or pier.

“Quite a few people are unaware that people need to keep their hands

out in front of them” when bodysurfing, Turner said.

For those who managed to enjoy the small waves safely, the weekend was

considerably more pleasant.

Lounging in the sand at 28th Street, Fullerton resident Steve Moon

said he didn’t mind that the waves hadn’t lived up to predictions.

“I find Newport generally to be smaller than Huntington Beach,” he

said. “But it’s nice to be out here with family and friends.”

Lorin Ely-McGregor, who was working the counter at Jack’s Surfboards,

said the waves had seemed pleasant enough to him.

“I had fun,” he said. “I can’t complain when the water’s so warm and

there’s something to surf.”