Heroic Acts
The Heroic Act Award intends to give due recognition to those who have risked their lives to an extraordinary degree in a rescue or attempted rescue of another person (without familial relation to the rescuer). Together, the USLA and CSLSA salute their bravery, courage, and service to humanity.
2025 Heroic Act Award Recipients:
- Jeff Hatfield, Marcos Pimentel, Olivia Klugg, Jim LeBeau, John Maher, Paul Rudell, Nathan Swank, Scott Swenson - Bird Rock, San Diego
On August 8th, 2025, at 4:14 pm, the San Diego Lifeguard Communication Center received a 911 call for a capsized vessel in the Bird Rock area of La Jolla.
Sergeant Jim LeBeau received the dispatch and requested a rescue boat, RWCs, and land units to respond. Rescue boat “Rescue West” was first on scene with operator LGIII Jeff Hatfield and crew LGIII Marcos Pimentel onboard.They found a 25-foot cuddy cabin overturned in 8 feet of water, being pummeled by 6-foot breaking waves in the surf zone. Multiple victims had been ejected from the vessel due to wave action. Four victims without PFDs were holding on to the hull and yelling for help. The overturned vessel and victims were being pushed by the surf toward the rocky shore and a dangerous, uneven reef. Pimentel swam to the victims who cried out that there was an additional victim trapped underneath. Triaging the situation, Pimentel free dove under the wreckage. Beneath the vessel, and amidst the breaking waves, he found a low-visibility debris-filled environment. He swam through the darkness on mission to locate the victim. Pimentel located the unconscious victim and swam him downward, beneath the gunwales and breaking waves, then back up to the surface.
Meanwhile, Lt. Mike Cranston acted as rescue group supervisor, coordinating the other responding units on land and sea. He directed the first RWC on scene, operated by LGII Scott Swenson, to assist Pimentel with the critical patient. Swenson positioned the sled for Pimentel to load the victim, and the two accelerated through the surf and shallow reefs to a lifeguard receiving team on shore.The receiving team consisted of Sgt. Jim LeBeau, Lt. John Maher, and lifeguards Olivia Klugg, Paul Rudell, and Nathan Swank. The team was positioned at the rocky shoreline to receive the victim as he arrived for delivery. CPR was in progress as Pimentel and Swenson arrived. The victim was transferred from the rescue sled to a rescue paddleboard for extrication through the intertidal zone of uneven reef, offshore pinnacles, rocks, and muscles. Upon reaching land, the receiving team negotiated the patient up a narrow staircase to numerous San Diego Fire Department resources waiting above. Their teamwork facilitated not only a rapid extrication to higher medical care, but also unceasing CPR the entire time.As this was taking place, the second RWC crewed by Garrett Chamberlin & Jake Stone arrived on scene. They maneuvered their craft through the breaking waves and debris field to rescue the non-critical patients, still clinging to the hull. Each patient was subsequently transported to shore for treatment.
All five patients were transported to the hospital. Due to the lifeguards’ quick thinking and teamwork, the critical patient survived.
- Zoe Chait - California State Parks
Meanwhile, State Parks Lifeguard Seasonal I Zoe Chait was surfing off duty about a quarter mile north. She noticed the emergency vehicles arriving facing the ocean and decided to paddle in to investigate. She ran to her vehicle to check Pulse Point to see if there was a water rescue at her location. Discovering there was a water rescue unfolding, she grabbed her rescue buoy and fins she carries with her in her personal vehicle and ran a quarter mile down the beach to check in with Incident Command.
Chait introduced herself as an off-duty State Parks lifeguard. A Firefighter gave her a pair of binoculars to spot the victim. Firefighters asked Chait if she was sure she could affect the rescue as the victim was moving further out to sea and no additional water resources were available to assist. In her ever upbeat demeaner, Chait assured the Police and Fire personnel that she could manage.Chait entered the water and swam through the inshore surf. She then swam 800 yards from shore to reach the victim. She clipped the 180-200pound man to her buoy and verified he did not have any injuries or medical conditions. She then began back-stroking for shore. About halfway back a surfer assisted her tow. Once Chait was just outside the surf line she thanked the surfer and between sets swam the victim through 4-5’ surf to shore. The victim, exhausted from treading and paddling alone in the cold, stormy water for over thirty minutes, collapsed. After the victim rewarmed he thanked Chait for saving his life and the firefighters thanked her for help.
- Chris Dominguez, Brett Peoples, Beau Wade - Seal Beach
About 2,000 candlelight vigil attendees were arriving when at 4:15pm Lifeguard 1 Beau Wade identified a swimmer near shore struggling to stay afloat. The swimmer was in waist deep water, facing continuous 8’ shore break and a powerful current. Wade responded via ATV and entered the water with his rescue buoy and fins. He provided flotation and momentary control over the situation.
Lifeguard II Brett Peoples responded and entered the water to assist. The victim struggled to maintain control of the buoy in the turbulent water and continuous dives beneath the waves. Peoples and Wade made the crucial decision to swim the victim further out to sea to await additional support. They navigated multiple sets before reaching the safe water beyond the impact zone.Meanwhile, Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Chris Dominguez was assigned to the candlelight vigil. Monitoring the situation on the radio, without hesitation, Chris responded Code 3 to launch the Rescue Water Craft. Dominguez launched the ski into 8’-10’ surf, maneuvered through the breaking waves and over to the victim and rescuers now near the end of the pier. The victim was loaded onto the rescue sled. Dominguez then skillfully navigated the watercraft back to a safe area on the beach. During this process, the watercraft experienced performance issues, and Dominguez had to account for a loss of power in the dynamic surf environment. Had it not been for Dominguez’s swift and decisive actions, the situation could have easily ended in a drowning.
The actions of Wade, Peoples, and Dominguez undoubtedly prevented a tragic outcome. The lifeguards’ decisive actions and ability to remain composed under pressure were instrumental in ensuring the swimmer’s safety and survival.
- Dean Firzzell, Ellie Sherlock - Seal Beach
At 11:55am Lifeguard II Dean Frizzell was on patrol of South Side, Area 2, in the lifeguard unit when he noted a bodyboarder had lost his board and was struggling to get back to shore near 12th Street. Without hesitation Dean entered the water to rescue the swimmer. Upon reaching the victim it was clear the person had overestimated their ability in 10 foot surf with forceful shore break. Dean attempted to tow the victim back to shore using his buoy and fins, but with a strong lateral current, relentless rip currents and big surf, progress was not enough to overcome conditions.
Lifeguard I Ellie Sherlock arrived on scene to back up Dean. She read the water and quickly recognized the severity of the situation. Communicating her observations to headquarters she then entered the water to assist.As every second passed Ellie, Dean and the victim were swept toward the pier. As they approached the pier a large set of 15 waves began to break outside, near the end of the pier. There was no lull on the horizon, and the team was now upon the pier, forced with a decision.
They could make a break for the beach and endure certain punishment, and risk losing contact with their victim. They could swim out to sea, battle the lateral current while duck diving with their victim beneath the waves. Or they could shoot the pier.
This calculus was made within seconds and the team decided to thread the needle through the razor-sharp pilings in the whirlpool of currents beneath the pier. If timed incorrectly the team could have been seriously injured.The guard’s timing was spot on and Dean, Ellie and the victim surfaced on the other side of the pier, Northside. Dean and Ellie’s timing and communication in navigating the pier pilings was critical. After battling the large surf, taking waves on the head to protect the victim, they made it safely back to the beach, roughly three quarters of a mile from where this rescue began. The victim suffered no injuries.The positive outcome is a direct result of Dean and Ellie’s quick response, their composure in extreme surf conditions, and resilience in cold water temperatures.
- Scott Dixon - Long Beach
Reaching the vehicle he found one patient, a male in his 70’s, floating face up in the water and two inside the vehicle. Dixon swam the first patient to the bank of the channel. He then returned to the vehicle to assist extricating the two other victims. Once free from the vehicle, Dixon swam these patients to the bank of the channel. Long Beach Fire Department personnel assisted with patient extrication on the rocks and then transported patients to a local hospital.
Had it not been for the quick actions of a lifeguard in the right place at the right time, this situation could have had a very different outcome.
2024 Heroic Act Award Recipients:
- Shayla Bauer and Jeffrey Weber, Laguna Beach High School Surf Team Members.
While surfing with his friends Shayla Bauer and Jeffrey Weber off "Dog Beach" in Huntington Beach, Tuesday, January 16, 2024, Chris Wessels suffered a cardiac episode in the water. With no formal training, his friends acted quickly performing lifesaving techniques used by lifeguards to save Chris' life. After Chris told his friends he felt lightheaded, he passed out on his surfboard. Shayla and Jeffrey responded quickly stabilizing his head, maintained an airway, and paddled him back to shore. Once on shore, Jeffrey commenced CPR. Shayla found someone with a cell phone and had them call 9-1-1. She returned to assist Jeffrey and another bystander with CPR until the Marine Safety Unit arrived on scene. After Marine Safety and Fire Paramedics arrived, Shayla and Jeffrey continued to assist Chris and provide a history of the event. Following 45 minutes of CPR, thanks to the combined efforts of Shayla, Jeffrey, First Responder Personnel, and Hospital Staff, Chris' heart began beating on its own. He has since made good progress in his recovery. For their heroic lifesaving actions, Shayla Bauer and Jeffrey Weber are hereby awarded the California Surf Lifesaving and United States Lifesaving Association's Heroic Act Awards.
- Juliana Akoubian - Huntington Beach "B" Junior Lifeguards
At approximately 3:30 PM on Monday, July 3, 2023, Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguard Instructor Elizabeth Lovat was body surfing with her "B" Group. The surf was moderate in size, but building with a mixed swell. Lovatt took off on a wave in the shore break and was thrown over the falls, striking her head on the bottom. Lovat advised later that she immediately knew she had broken her neck, as she was face down in the water, her entire body went numb and she couldn't feel or move her arms and legs. "B" Junior Lifeguard, Juliana Akoubian, who was body surfing near Lovat, observed her lying face down in the shore break, and not moving. She immediately made contact with Lovat, and using skills
taught in the Junior Guard Program, rolled Lovat over while protecting her head and neck. She also began yelling for additional help. Another Junior Guard Instructor heard Juliana's calls for help, and along with a nearby tower guard, responded to assist Akoubian with Lovat. It was later determined that Lovat had indeed fractured her neck and was completely paralyzed from the neck down. Lovat later stated that had Akoubian not recognized her plight, and responded appropriately, that she may well have died of drowning from the accident. Lifeguard Lovat has since been through medical treatments and rehab procedures with a positive outlook for some, if not full recovery from the accident. For her immediate and appropriate lifesaving actions, Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguard Juliana Akoubian is hereby awarded the California Surf Lifesaving Association's Heroic Act Award.
CSLSA Heroic Award Recipients (Lifeguards)
Recipients from California
For a complete U.S. listing, CLICK HERE
Pena, Joseph — 1990
Pletch, Theresa — 1990
Richards, Kevin — 1990
Kitmetto, Kiyo — 1993
Rogers, Robert — 1993
Spheeris, Linda — 1993
Dalton, Charity — 1994
Linnen, Chuck — 1994
McFadden, David — 1994
Schwary, Brian — 1994
Cherry, Scot — 1997
Hodson, Tad — 1997
Kruger, Blair — 1997
Strickland, Brian — 1997
Weck, Roger — 1997
Willis, Robert — 1997
Dalton, John — 1998
O'Hara, John — 1998
Sullivan, Terrance — 1998
Brave, Dick — 1999
Barrera, Richard — 2001
White, Kyle — 2001
Lothian, Mackenzie — 2005
Amy Di Chiro — 2008
Wright, Greg — 2009
Brown, Brian — 2010
Hoffman, Ryan — 2010
Starky, Sean — 2010
Davis, Alex — 2001
Castillo, Phil — 2012
Foster, Logan — 2012
Butterfield, Royce — 2013
Shenbaum, Dave — 2013
Reeves, Conner — 2014
Watson, Patrick and Danny — 2014
Becktold, Mike — 2015
Price, Gifford — 2015
Granger, Cameron & Lucy — 2016
Siegel, Ben — 2016
Hoover, Jonathan — 2017
Huckabey, Scott — 2017
Billings, Mick — 2018
Hammel, Chad — 2018
Hurst, Ethan — 2018
Stanton, James — 2018
Brown, Brandon — 2019
Pike, Gavin — 2019
Foye, Cale — 2021
Carter, Andrew — 2022
Defoney, Kevin — 2022
Kubrych, Nick — 2022
Akubian, Juliana — 2023
Baginski, Carter — 2024
Basillie, Tristan — 2024
Bauer, Shayla — 2024
Bradley, Kevin — 2024
Farnell, Shawn — 2024
Gonzales, Chris — 2024
Gonzales, Chris (2nd Award) — 2024
Mathison, Will — 2024
Hatfield, Jeff — 2025
Pimentel, Marcos — 2025
Klugg, Olivia — 2025
LeBeau, Jim — 2025
Maher, John — 2025
Rudell, Paul — 2025
Swank, Nathan — 2025
Swenson, Scott — 2025