The highest award presented by the CSLSA/USLA to a non-lifeguard civilian is intended 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.

 

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.
 
2015 Heroic Act Award Recipients:
 
  • Gifford Price - Student, Junior Lifeguard, Huntington City Beach
 On Monday, October 6, 2014, Gifford Price, an eleven-year-old Huntington  Christian School student and Junior Lifeguard, was waiting for the Junior Lifeguard Surf Camp to begin at Huntington State Beach when he was approached by a 16-year-old visitor who told him that his sister was in trouble. Gifford immediately took his surfboard and paddled out to the 14-year-old victim, telling her to grab onto his board. When Gifford was paddling out to the girl, the Surf Camp instructor noticed the struggling victim. John Prichard, a seasonal lifeguard, then began swimming out, reaching the victim who was hanging onto Gifford’s surfboard. He relieved Price and assisted the victim to shore. It was later learned that the 14-year-old girl was a visitor from Arizona, just enjoying the ocean when she was pulled out to sea. She said that she felt that she was going to pass-out just before Gifford arrived. Her brother, who realized she was in trouble saw that the lifeguards were quite a distance away, so looked around and saw Gifford with his surfboard. He knew that time was of the essence. Gifford did not hesitate when approached by the brother. His timely rescue more than likely saved the victim from going under. For that extraordinary action, the CSLSA and USLA awarded Gifford with the Heroic Acts Award, presented to him (with his family present) at the Spring, 2015 Board of Directors meeting in Newport Beach on April 9th.     Information provided by GroupHicks.com
  • Mike Becktold - Fire Captain, City of Coronado
 On July 7, 2014, Fire Captain Mike Becktold and his crew were among the first responders to a call of a swimmer in distress. In the darkness, Station 36’s firefighters could see a surf of six to eight foot and many rip tides. With no hesitation, Captain Becktold entered the water and provided aid to three people, including a 12-year-old boy. All were brought safely out of the water to the waiting paramedics. For Mike’s selfless and heroic action, the CSLSA and USLA awarded him with the 2015 Heroic Acts Award, presented during the October, 2015 Board of Directors’ meeting in Redondo Beach, CA.

 

USLA Heroic Act Award Recipients
     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, Shayba
 
2024
Bradley, Kevin
 
2024
Farnell, Shawn
 
2024
Gonzales, Chris
 
2024
Gonzales, Chris (2nd Award)
 
2024
Mathison, Will
 
2024
McColl, Chase
 
2024
Pugh, Michael
 
2024
Quiggle, Justin
 
2024
Reinheimer, James
 
2024
Weber, Jeffrey
2024
Chait, Zoe   2024

Wade, Beau

2024

Peoples, Brett

2024

Dominguez, Chris

2024

Frizzell, Dean

2024

Sherlock, Ellie

2024

Dixon, Scott

2024

Gamette, Madison   2025
Ayres, Steve   2025
Banayat, Kailey   2025
Karsten, Masen   2025
Muller, Samuel    2025
Tran, Brandon   2025