Want to get involved and help benefit Surfers Healing Learn More > 2021 REGISTRATION. Want to know what Surfing Santa is all about Learn More > SPONSORSHIP. Lifeguards say the tragic death of a fellow lifeguard who rescued a swimmer in Newport Beach last month shows that even they are not safe when the ocean is dangerous. 2021 SURFING SANTA CONTEST continue to support Surfers Healing by bidding on the Holiday Surfboard Auction. "He was calm, cool and collected the whole time and it worked out for the best," said Garrett. Garrett says he calmed Saco down and told him to paddle south out of the path of the strong current. Surfing Santa Decorative Banner: Christmas in July Supplies, Christmas at the Beach Banner, Palm Tree with Lights Décor. "He was in a pretty bad spot at the time, for sure, because he was a couple hundred yards out." "He said that he was pretty exhausted and he wasn't going to be able to make it back in on his own," said Garrett. Luckily these guys, these heroes over here, pulled me out," said Saco. One lifeguard dove into the ocean from the pier. People on the pier noticed Saco was in trouble and flagged down lifeguards who sprinted into action. I tried, I was doing my best out there and all of a sudden I just got sucked in," said Saco. "I just got caught in the current and it pulled me through the pier. He says he almost drowned Wednesday morning after being tossed around like a rag doll in the violent surf. "There were some (waves) out there that were easily like 10 feet," he said.
(KABC) - Santa Clarita resident Christian Saco, an experienced swimmer who's been surfing for years, says he hasn't seen swells so big in nearly a decade.