Briefly in the News

--Danette Goulet

A 12-year-old boy was taken to Hoag Hospital, where he was listed in

critical condition Monday afternoon after he and a 10-year-old girl nearly drowned off Corona del Mar State Beach.

The two were bodyboarding off the far south end of big Corona past the

jetty when a big wave caused them both to lose their boards, said Capt.

John Blauer of the Newport Beach Fire and Marine Department.

A beachgoer saw the two struggling and called 911 on a cellular phone,

Blauer said.

Nearby lifeguards arrived within moments and hauled the girl out.

“The girl was exhausted but breathing,” Blauer said.

Meanwhile, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Harbor Patrol

searched for the boy, who was found floating face down. Officials tried

to revive him, Blauer said.

Both children were taken to Hoag Hospital.

“The girl, she’s in reasonable condition,” Blauer said. “They had

started CPR. He did not have a pulse at some point.”

Waves were three to five feet with occasional six-foot sets coming

through, Blauer added.

“It was strong surf conditions,” he said. “A mother was there and saw

them get in trouble, but it doesn’t take long to get in trouble out

there.”