TowBoatUS San Diego Salvages 29′ Defiance sportfisher after San Diego Lifeguards make heroic save of six lives.

There is a reason why we think San Diego Lifeguards are some of the best in their field. Many days you see them sitting in their towers with zinc on their noses and sunglasses on. Once in a while will you see them swim out to assist a tired swimmer back to shore. One would think that’s all there is to it and that it’s an awesome job… kicking back on the beach and going for a swim every now and then. Better yet, driving a boat around looking at the scenery and relaxing while making sure our boaters are safe. Well nothing could be further from the truth for the crew who risked their lives to save others. In an attempt to go above and beyond their responsibility, the Lifeguards tried to get a flipped over boat into position to save it and ended up in danger themselves.
 
My hats off to these guys they don’t get any “extra” pay because someone lives or a boat gets saved. They do this job because they are trained to save lives. They are highly trained and very efficient at saving lives. Being a salvage diver, I have swam 600 feet of line into shore hundreds of times and even in the calmest of waters your adrenaline rises as you jump in and start swimming. But to go out in 15′ seas and even jump off the jetty rocks in this condition is something only the best of the best life guards can do.

Vessel Assist turned the sports fisher over once it was in the safety of the turning basin in Mission Bay but, to the 6 people that can tell the story of how they were saved by life guards, there is no comparison. These lifeguards should be commended for their efforts and awarded the highest merit possible for their heroic effort to save lives. As for the salvage of the boat, it was pretty boring compared to the lifeguard effort. Captain Eric Lamb running Vessel Assist Mission Bay arrived on scene and attached a line to the upside down sport fisher before it was destroyed on the rocks. Once towed to deep water Captain Shane Thompson attached float bags strategically on the vessel then slowly rolled over by applying air in some bags as air was released from others. Once right side up the boat was raised and towed to Driscoll’s boat yard for an emergency haul out.

Just a reminder next time there is bad weather and your thinking of going out, ask yourself “who is going to save me if all hell breaks loose and is it worth going out the these conditions?” As President of Vessel Assist San Diego I want to personally thank each and every San Diego Lifeguard for being there. Whether its sitting in a tower watching over surfers or risking your life in a situation like this past storm, we appreciate every one of you!

Captain Robert Butler
President
Vessel Assist San Diego