EDITORIAL:

Two tragedies have turned into travesties.

The tragedies involve a 17-year-old who was swept away near the 28th Street jetty in March 2008. The victim was swimming in the area that afternoon and disappeared. His body was found hours later.

The second tragedy involves a man who was paralyzed when he dove into a wave and slammed his head into the ocean floor.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

If only it ended there. Instead, both cases are heading toward our judicial system.

The parents of the first victim, citing costs incurred from paramedics trying to revive their son, as well as the pain and suffering that ensued, are asking Newport Beach to hand over $20 million. They claim there were no flags posted or visible signs showing there was high surf or high wind conditions that day.

The mother of the second victim is asking Newport Beach for $500,000, citing the dangerous conditions in the water that afternoon and the lifeguard’s failure to warn the public. In her claim, she describes the shock and horror she felt at seeing her son’s severe injury as he was pulled from the water.

With all due respect to the victims’ families, we believe these claims — the city has a year to deny or acquiesce to them, and if it denies, the plaintiff can then file a lawsuit — are unnecessary, unfounded and, ultimately, a waste of taxpayer money that goes to the city to fight the claims.

Both men made a choice to go into rough waters. These weren’t some insipid, under-the-surface riptides we’re talking about.

It’s roiling waters, violent waves.

Do we really need Big Brother to warn us that the ocean is dangerous?

The city posts signs in certain areas, and employs a crack crew of lifeguards, but it’s impossible to prevent injury and even death from ever happening.

And that’s tragic.

But holding the city accountable for 100% safeguarding of its waters is a travesty.