A woman suffered a cardiac incident after being swept into the ocean by powerful waves while walking on Aliso Beach in Orange County, California. Teresa Tran was with friends when the group was caught off guard by rough surf.
One wave knocked the women down, and as they tried to stand, a subsequent wave hit them again. Witnesses saw the women struggling in the water, prompting lifeguards to respond. While two of Tran's friends returned to shore safely, rescuers reached Tran after she had suffered a heart attack amid the near-drowning.
Lifeguards administered aid to Tran on the beach before a helicopter airlifted her to a nearby hospital. Her daughter, Amanda Trinh, told CBS LA that her mother was unconscious when pulled from the water and that lifeguards found her pulse to be faint. Tran regained consciousness after vomiting water.
According to Trinh, Tran's last memory in the water was a feeling of exhaustion and the thought of needing to keep trying before she swallowed a significant amount of water.
Trinh has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover her mother's medical expenses, describing the event as a "frightening and unexpected experience." She expressed gratitude for her mother's survival and recovery.
Tran was discharged from the hospital and was resting at home as of Aug. 20. The incident occurred near an area where a 5-year-old child previously drowned after being swept away by strong surf. Trinh stated that her mother is now horrified by the experience and hesitant to go near any body of water.