By John Scheibe The Ventura County Star
VENTURA, Calif. — What began as a dare among friends ended Wednesday night with the near drowning of a 19-year-old at the Ventura Pier.
Authorities said the youth had jumped into the ocean on the north end of the pier after telling his friends he could swim to shore from there.
But once in the water, the youth experienced severe distress, authorities said, and struggled to stay above water.
A rescue swimmer from the Ventura City Fire Department jumped into the water to rescue the teen.
‘The rescue swimmer was able to clip the victim into a rescue buoy,’ said an official with the Fire Department.
The youth was so weakened and cold that he was unable to assist with his own rescue, officials said. A Ventura Harbor Patrol boat went to the scene, and the teen was put on board before being transported to Ventura County Medical Center.
Once there, he was treated for exhaustion and possible hypothermia.
The teen told rescuers that he became exhausted and cold once in the water and yelled for help from bystanders on the pier, who then called 911.
Wednesday’s near drowning came almost a year after another 25-year-old man disappeared under the waves after jumping off the Port Hueneme Pier. Rescuers were unable to find him the night he went into the water. His body was recovered a week later. His death was ruled an accidental drowning.
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