2 men jump off Newport Pier

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- Lifeguards rescued two men who dove off Newport Pier

and got caught in a rip current Wednesday morning, officials said.

Newport Beach Lifeguard Capt. Jim Turner said at about 7 a.m., he saw

a man run across the pier, put his arms up in the air, flip over the rail

and crash in the water feet first.

“I was wide awake then, but it was still a surprise,” he said. Another

man followed suit, also making the 25-foot plunge. Soon, both became

trapped in a rip current, Turner said.

“They grabbed onto the pier pilings because they were really tired,”

he said.

Lt. Brent Jacobsen led the rescue effort, backed up by Turner and

Capt. Eric Bauer.

The first jumper was identified as Jonathan Armendarez, 20, of

Ontario, police said.

He was cited and arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of

alcohol, said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Steve Shulman. He posted $100

bail, he said.

The other man, whose name was not available, was issued a citation,

officials said.

The two men were not the only pier jumpers this week, Turner said. On

Sunday, another man almost had to be rescued after jumping off the same

spot. He managed to beat the rip current and swim ashore but was issued a

citation, Turner said.

“Three jumpers in two days is pretty rare,” Turner said.

It is also extremely dangerous because the water is shallow in that

location, he said.

“We had a person about 10 years ago who hit his head and died,” Turner

said. “We’ve also had a few cases when people have become paralyzed as a

result of their injuries.”

The water was also cold Wednesday morning, said Newport Beach Fire

Capt. John Blauer.

“They couldn’t handle it,” he said. “It was between 53 and 56 degrees.

It saps your energy levels.”