Some rangers at Jalama Beach were honored at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ meeting Tuesday for helping save the lives of two people reportedly swept out to sea last month.
Rangers Nate Lange, Don Wilsey and Jon LaRue reportedly responded March 30 to reports of two swimmers in distress at Jalama Beach.
Lange and LaRue reportedly saw the swimmers being pulled out to sea about 150 yards off shore and jumped onto rescue boards to get to them.
The rangers in the water were having a difficult time seeing the swimmers in the water due to the waves, according to a report, so Wiley used hand signals from an ATV to help guide Lange and LaRue to the swimmers.
They were able to help the two people onto the boards and paddle them back to shore where EMTs had been notified of the incident.
Tuesday’s honor came after a community member notified Supervisor Joan Hartman about the “heroic ocean water rescue.”
