State Park Ranger I

Department of Parks and Recreation

5/15/1993

Special Act Award (Gold)

On May 15, 1993, at 10:58 a.m., State Park Ranger William L. Pierce and another ranger saw three young boys on boogie boards swimming into a rip current at Pismo Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. The boys were approximately 150 feet from the shore. Two more boys swam out and all five became caught in a rip current. Three boys were really struggling, trying to swim to shore. The rangers alerted the Pismo Fire Department and advised them to bring a jet ski since no lifeguard was available. At 11:01 a.m., when the rangers realized the boys were being carried further out to sea, Ranger Pierce went into the water wearing only swimming trunks and towing a rescue buoy. The water temperature was approximately 55 degrees; normally a wet suit would be worn. Two of the boys with boogie boards were able to make it to the shore. The other three boys were in serious trouble. When Ranger Pierce reached them, he had the two boys without boogie boards hold onto his rescue buoy and the third boy with the boogie board hold onto the buoy rope. Ranger Pierce proceeded to swim ashore, but the current was too strong and they were all being pulled out to sea at a rapid pace. Ranger Pierce signaled he needed assistance and struggled against the current by swimming parallel to shore for approximately 500+ feet with the three boys in tow. Ranger Pierce was finally able to get out of the rip current; he found a sand bar to stand and rest on and was then able to swim to shore. Even though Ranger Pierce was suffering from mild hypothermia and felt dizzy from a sinus infection, he declined medical treatment until the boys were treated. After the boys were attended to, Ranger Pierce allowed the medics to treat him and then he returned to work.