Oceanside CA— Five people were washed off the outer jetty outside the Oceanside Harbor just before noon today, December 13, 2014. A total of eight people had hiked out on the rocks from the Camp Pendleton side of the harbor when a large wave knocked five of them over around 11:30 am.
Three of the five ended up with injuries, including one who suffered major injuries when he was knocked down the large boulders and into the turning basin between Oceanside and Camp Pendleton. Fortunately, the most seriously injured, a late 40’s active duty member of the US Air Force, was quickly picked up by a passing jet ski and taken to the fuel dock inside Oceanside Harbor.
Once there, waiting Oceanside firefighter paramedics, lifeguards and police officers stabilized the injured airman and transported him by ambulance to the Oceanside Airport where REACH air took him the rest of the way to Scripps La Jolla.
Fire and Base Police units from Camp Pendleton handled the other two injuries, as well as escorted the uninjured members of the party to safety.
Officers from the Oceanside Police Department and Lifeguards from the Oceanside Fire Department stood by on a rescue boat inside the turning basin as they were escorted off the jetty. Once they had made it to safety, the outer jetty was closed by Camp Pendleton authorities to prevent additional incidents from occurring.
A high surf advisory remains in effect for the County due to the potential for large waves. Individuals are reminded to take notice of these warnings before venturing too close to the ocean.