Harbor patrol officers become heroes
Two officers of the Santa Monica Harbor Patrol saved a man’s life this past weekend after he apparently fell off the pier and into the choppy waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, an allegedly intoxicated fisherman, fell off the north side fishing deck of the Santa Monica Pier. Two harbor patrol officers, Jaime Morado and Donald Davis, immediately jumped into the ocean and rescued the man, who was being violently thrashed about in high surf, and dangerous and stormy conditions.
The 24-year-old Latino man, whose identity is unknown, attempted to hug one of the pier’s pilings, but couldn’t because the rough surf made it nearly impossible. Instead, the man was slammed against the piling, slashing his forehead open, according to police reports.
“The first thing people realize is that they can’t swim and they try to grab the pilings,” said Santa Monica Police Department Sgt. Steve Heineman. “But the pilings are nothing short of razor blades.”
It’s estimated the man was in the approximately 58-degree water for about 15 minutes, but once harbor patrol officers were alerted by a citizen that he had fallen in, they had him out with five minutes.
“If they hadn’t been quick he would have died for sure,” said harbor officer David Finley. “There was a storm coming in, three to five foot waves, 58 degree water and it’s a 20-foot drop.”
Complicating matters, the man was drunk and fully clothed, according to police.
Officer Morado located the man just east of the fishing decks. The officers gave the fisherman a rescue tube and led him to the catwalk at the end of the pier. But because the man was apparently inebriated and suffering from hypothermia, he was unable to climb the ladder, police said.
With the assistance of responding officers and lifeguards, a mechanical hoist with a basket attached on the end pulled the man to safety. He was transported to Santa Monica-UCLA hospital, where police said he was treated for a contusion to his forehead and hypothermia.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 12, 2002. Read the original PDF.