OC lifeguards rescue hundreds of swimmers on July 4th weekend due to dangerous rip currents

OC lifeguards rescue 500+ swimmers on 4th of July

High surf and strong rip currents made for dangerous waters in Orange County on Independence Day, with lifeguards having to rescue more than 500 people.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - Southern California lifeguards rescued more than 500 swimmers over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, thanks to high surf and dangerous rip currents.

What we know:

Thousands of people have flooded the beaches across Southern California for the 4th of July weekend. 

In Huntington Beach, officials said they doubled lifeguard staffing on Friday, in anticipation of the crowds. The crowds combined with strong surf to make a dangerous situation.

"The powerful surf produced rip currents that were pulling hundreds of yards offshore into deeper water," HBFD Marine Safety Division Chief Trevor McDonald said in a statement. "It was common to see large wave sets roll through, followed by multiple monster rip currents forming at once and pulling water — and swimmers — rapidly out to sea."

By the numbers:

Hundreds of people were pulled out into the ocean on Friday alone. In Huntington Beach, lifeguards rescued 152 people from the currents on Friday. They also had to perform four boat rescues.

In Newport Beach, lifeguards rescued more than 350 people on Friday alone. Newport Beach officials shared video showing just how large and powerful the rip currents were on X.