A 49-year-old California woman experienced a heart attack and nearly drowned after being swept out to sea by a powerful wave while walking on Aliso Beach in Laguna Beach. The incident occurred when Teresa Tran and her friends were caught off guard by unusually strong waves.
According to her daughter, Amanda Trinh, the group was walking along the shore when a wave knocked them to their knees. While one friend managed to reach safety and another was assisted by lifeguards, Tran was found unconscious by rescuers. The shock of the nearly drowning experience triggered a heart attack.
Lifeguards pulled Tran from the water and began resuscitation efforts on the beach. First responders found her pulse to be faint. After being turned over, Tran was able to expel water she had swallowed, regaining consciousness. She was subsequently airlifted to Providence Mission Hospital, where she remained for four days before returning home to continue her recovery.
Trinh has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help cover her mother's medical expenses. She hopes Tran's experience will raise awareness about the dangers of ocean conditions. The incident occurred less than a mile from a location where a five-year-old child drowned earlier under similar circumstances.
Surf conditions along Orange County, including Laguna Beach, have been particularly hazardous this summer. NOAA reports that swells generated by Hurricanes Fausto and Genevieve in the Pacific contributed to wave heights reaching 8-10 feet at south-facing beaches. Aliso Beach, facing southwest, has been significantly impacted by these conditions.