A man died after leaping from Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach, Calif. on Sunday, according to news reports. Photo: Shutterstock
A tragic accident in Huntington Beach, Calif. ended with the rescue of a woman who leapt from the pier — and death for the brother who tried to save her.
The 36-year-old woman, unnamed in media reports, jumped off the beach’s iconic pier Sunday evening to the cheers of a gathered crowd, according to local news reports.
However, ocean currents proved turbulent, and it became clear to bystanders that the woman was in distress. That’s when her 44-year-old brother, later identified as Fenton Dee II of Norwalk, Calif. also leapt into the ocean, Fox 11 reported.
Nearby surfers including Landon Holman realized that both siblings needed help. What happened next is “something I’m going to have to live with forever,” Holman told Fox.
With the help of another surfer, Holman used his board to safety return the woman to shore, who he said was “actively drowning.” Holman then went back for Dee, who was “unresponsive.”
The surfer performed CPR on Dee, but was unsuccessful. Medical personnel later pronounced Dee dead at a nearby hospital, KTLA reported.
Struggling to speak in the interview, Holman said he has “vivid memories” of what happened.
“I just knew in my head I wasn’t going to be able to save both of them,” he said. “We did everything in our power to save both of them. And we were able to save one life…and to me that still means a lot.”
Hundreds of thousands of spectators and tourists pour into “Surf City” each year – of course the home of the US Open. The pier affects the mechanics of the waves, and serves as a solid perch for specatating.
Authorities prohibit jumping from the pier, and incidents like Sunday’s tragedy stand testament to the reason why. In the aftermath, Holman said he hopes more people will hesitate to break the rules.
“I just really hope that people think twice before making that jump,” he said.
