Long Beach lifeguards pull swimmer to safety

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Long Beach lifeguards rescued a swimmer who nearly drowned on Sunday at Neptune Boulevard beach.

The Fire Department said it received an emergency call at 7:29 p.m. reporting that a swimmer was in distress. Swimming is prohibited after 6 p.m. and lifeguards were no longer on duty.

A lifeguard night crew arrived to the scene and spotted a male swimmer struggling in the water and unable to swim to safety, according to the Fire Department. Firefighters, paramedics and police also rushed to the scene.

Lifeguards entered the water and rescued the swimmer, who was evaluated by paramedics. The victim declined to be taken to an area hospital and refused medical attention.

Long Beach police issued the man a summons for swimming after hours.

The Fire Department did not say whether the swimmer had become caught in a rip current.

It was one of many rescues this summer involving swimmers in distress after-hours — usually due to dangerous rip currents — when lifeguards were no longer present.

On July 30, lifeguards, firefighters and police rescued two men in distress who nearly drowned while swimming when lifeguards were off-duty.