SOBA's Ricardo Monroy Receives 2011 Distinguished Service Award

Congratulations to our friend and South Bay Swim Team teammate, Ricardo Monroy! Ricardo is the recipient of the Los Angeles County Lifeguard's 2011 Distinguished Service Award.

Ricardo was honored at the Medal of Valor Dinner on July 28. We are so proud of you, Ricardo! Kudos to you for the lifeguard work that you do, and for being recognized for your extraordinary lifesaving efforts. A recap of his heroic achievement was recapped in the event program:

Ricardo Monroy left the Ainsworth Court tower to gather the swim / surf flags that were next to the Redondo Beach Pier. About halfway there he heard a commotion at the end of the pier. Stopping to look to see what all noise was, he heard the fisherman and other pier patrons yelling for help. They were waving and pointing to something in the water at the end of the pier. Not being able to see what they were pointing at, due to the sun's glare on the water, OL Monroy ran back to his tower and called Hermosa HQ. He quickly informed them that he was going to be running out on the pier, that there might be someone in the water, and he needed back up. OL Monroy exchanged his rescue can for a rescue tube, and ran onto the pier. At the end he found a crowd pointing to a man in the water. OL Monroy asked the crowd if anyone had dialed 911 for help. Multiple patrons said, "Yes". OL Monroy quickly climbed over the pier railing and jumped into the water where he found a fully clothed man clinging to a pier piling. Pulling the man free from the pier piling, OL Monroy wrapped his rescue tube around the victim, and then he was able to ask if he was all right. The man answered that he was okay. OL Monroy explained to the man what they were going to do and began swimming. They were able to make their way to shore rather quickly. LG 14-2 arrived on scene to find OL Monroy with one victim in tow, swimming towards shore. The Redondo Beach Harbor Patrol was pulling up on scene and the deckhand entered the water to assist. Together they helped the victim to the beach where they were met by LG 14-2 and City of Redondo Beach Fire and Police units. Being fluent in both Spanish and English OL Monroy helped translate for both the fire and police personnel. During questioning, it was found out that the man had leaned over the pier railing while fishing, slipped and fell into the water. After ascertaining that the man was not injured and just wanted to go home, Redondo Beach Fire and Police released the man to his family. Both the man and his wife personally hugged and thanked OL Monroy for saving his life.