Body surfer dies after rescue from high surf at the Wedge [Updated]

[Updated 8:14 p.m.: The Orange County coroner’s office has identified the man as 50-year-old Monte Kevin Valantin of Lawndale.]

A body surfer has died after being thrown against the rocks at the Wedge in Newport Beach in 20-foot waves.

The body surfer, whose name was not released, was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital about noon in grave condition, said Jennifer Schulz, a spokeswoman for the Newport Beach Fire Department.

The Wedge is a popular body boarding, surfing and body surfing beach at the south end of the Balboa Peninsula.

A high-surf warning has been in effect for Southern California with waves possibly reaching as high as 8 feet in south-facing beaches. Area lifeguards are warning beachgoers to exercise caution this weekend.

"The high surf is our No. 1 concern," said county lifeguard Capt. Terry Harvey. "We're advising all beachgoers to talk to lifeguards to find out where that safe place is to swim."

Harvey said the result of large surf and an uneven bottom in the water will lead to dangerous rip currents, and conditions are expected to run through the weekend and into next week.

Rescuers have already dealt with a magnitude of distressed swimmers and surfers in the water today, Harvey said.

He said there would be additional Baywatch patrol on beaches to ensure safety.

"We do everything we can," Harvey said. "We are prepared for a busy weekend."

The Wedge is considered a mecca for body surfing, but is also known for its potential dangers.

Wedge veterans have left the beach with concussions, fractured vertebrae and broken bones. The waves ricochet off the rocky jetty at the tip of Balboa Peninsula, smashing together in white-frosted peaks that can tower 20 feet.

The Wedge can chew up novices, flinging them onto the hard berm of sand or sucking them back into the churning surf.

-- Gerrick D. Kennedy

 

Photos: Large waves pound south-facing beaches

From the archives

Newport's Wedge is still a sandy hook
(Nov. 3, 2008)

Time Is Wiping Out Wedge Surf Purists
(Sept. 30, 2002)

Comments

[wedgeboy]

hey guys, its just not right to try to tackle 20 foot faces with a rock floor: take a few days off, check the babes, and ride back out in one piece. we're only human, not invincible....

[R M]

No wonder the idiots go there and die. Yesterday evening it was all over the news and they showed body surfers doing it in smaller waves. So her we go again, THANK YOU, stupid medias for attracting copy cats and idiots instead to issue WARNINGS. People have to die so you get another headline. Nice game you have going on.

[Doug]

RM, do you really think people don't know giant waves can hurt people? People like you are the reason stepladders have 20 ridiculous warning stickers. It is Man vs. Nature, and sometimes nature gets the best of us. It's part of living. I'm pretty sure the LA Times didn't kill him.

If you want a real story, go after the fact that traffic reporters tell you how to find roads with less traffic, so you can go faster. They don't even warn you that speeding kills. Shameful.

[Risky Behavior]

When it comes to a surfing death. it's no one's fault except the person who enters the water. When you see 15-20 foot waves, regardless of the warnings, you know the risk. Waves that big are dangerous, one false move and it is a death sentence.

We live in a society of people who want to prove something...to others and themselves.

It's neither the media's fault nor the government.

If you don't want to risk death, stay out of the water.
If you choose to risk your life, make sure your affairs in order.

[Dana White]

Like climbing Half Dome at Yosemite or running a marathon, surfing the wedge calls for experience, skill, and courage. While it is really sad when a person eats it, those of us who challenge these natural wonders have our own stories that draw us back in time and again. Have some compassion but don't feel sorry. It is unfortunate this person died - but consider he (or she) was passionately engaged in an activity they loved.

[artkitten]

Tragic. I feel terrible for his family and friends. I hope others learn from this and realize the power of the ocean is immense beyond belief.

[LocalsOnly]

Rock floor? You are a fool. The wedge has a sandy bottom. And this has nothing to do with 'the media' telling people about this so they can go and die. If you actually take a look at these waves and are not a serious body surfing veteran, you wouldn't even think about getting in the water. The lifeguards won't let anyone in the water that even looks close to a rookie. Get a clue.

[Chris Schell]

People know what they are getting into when they go into the Wedge on days like today. They do not go in because they saw it on the news. These are experienced bodysurfers who go out on these large days. I myself go to the wedge and everyone in there knows the behavior of these waves and the location. Please do not make bold comments when you have no knowledge of the situation

[John]

There is a committed, skilled crew at wedge who know what they are doing. The usual guys were out today doing just fine along with 20 other guys at times who got some good rides and made it in ok. Most people shouldn't go out there under these conditions, but those who know what they are doing know which ones to take and how to ride them since many of them have been doing this for 20+ years. Believe it or not, there is a semi-safe way to bodysurf wedge by minimizing risk (what waves to take, when to swim out. where to position yourself, etc.). I know this from experience, but I am not as experienced as the local crew which is why I wasn't in the water today. It is important not to write off people who ride large waves as idiots for not heeding a high surf warning, it is likely (and unfortunate) that someone who wasn't as experienced or maybe over estimated their skillset was the victim today. May he rest in peace.

[nailgun]

@RM - hey ignoramus, it's not the media that drives those people out into big surf at the Wedge. They do it for the thrill, and they have been doing it for a long time. How do you think the famous Marion Morrison got started on his gig? He busted his shoulder at the Wedge in the mid-20s.

[Hangemhigh]

RM, You're blaming the media?? Any idiot standing on the shore can see how dangerous it is. Darwinism in action.

[Bobby Dee]

Hey dudes,

Was at Venice Beach today. Nice waves. Couldn't go out except 20-30 yards. Fun!!!! Always be safe and listen to the lifeguards.

[LB]

those were big waves that day.. I surfed it at HB and I got hurt too with a busted lip when a big wave pushed my board and hit me in the face.. I had to go to ER. I know some of you are saying oh why do people do that and think they are stupid for doing so. Please don't judge us surfers and bodyboarders like that. Until you know how it feels to catch a wave, until you have experienced that feeling. Don't say we're stupid. That dude that drowned died doing what he loves - Living. God bless him and his family.

[Sara]

It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear to be stupid than to open it and assure it. The wedge is a sand bottom next to a jetty. The guy was 50 and from lawndale and ended up being smashed against the jetty. I agree that the media shouldn't exploit his deatg but at the same time he put himself in a position he couldn't handle and suffered horrible consequences, and the media was just putting the story out there. If obviously high risk of death isn't warning enough, I don't know what is. And whoever is dumb enough to go out there without proper experience to look "macho" ends up dying doesn't deserve to live- it's called natural selection.

[Hanna]

hey people it's not the persons fault that he died he was just trying to have a good time and the waves got the best of hime give him a fricken break!

[Elle Radan]

the emotion flowing through the wedge after this horrible incident happened was so thick that you could not even see the few body surfers tackling some 15 foot waves. the crowd was about 4 people deep and thousands long and the sorrow was definitely felt by all. it is very sad that some one had to die in one of mother natures greatest creations but he went out probably doing his very favorite thing, body surfing some epic 20 foot waves. i hope that people can understand that when you go out for a ride, your risking your life and that one wave could be your last. the wedge is one of those locations and surfers know that when they get in the water, they may not come out alive. but we hope for the best! rest in peace and best wishes to his family.

[Peter Swanson]

Thank you, Sara, for your common-sense comments During my years as a Wedge regular (1963-'68) I saw MANY inland idiots get sand-hammered simply because they had no clue as to how to read the ocean. I suspect that you're right about Mr. Valantin of Lawndale being out in conditions for which he was completely unprepared.
I'm now 62, and would still go out at the Wedge, but not in 20-plus foot surf. My experience would allow me to have fun in 4-to-8 foot waves; that same experience would tell me when to stay out of the water.
By the way, the only death I recall from the 60's was when a guy panicked and tried to climb onto the jetty to escape a big set. Unlike Mr. Valantin, that man's body was never found.
Hint to all: STAY AWAY FROM THE ROCKS!

[Jim]

I'm just learning to surf and power of the water amazes me.

[Clayman]

\Rest in |eace, brother. The Wedge is not a place for testing unless you know you can pass for sure. even small waves are treacherous there. I used to body surf and boogie board daily in South Orange County when I was in my teens and early 20s. You had to be in great shape to avoid disaster! But what a rush. the best ever! Locals only, I GET HOSTILE VIBES FROM YOUR POST. MAYBE IT IS JUST THE NAME, i HAVE ALWAYS HATED THE LOCALISM THING THAT i have seen in So Cal. Nobody owns the waves or the wind. I was born in Newport Beach, I don't care who I share a wave with as long as the people and the place is respected.

Clayman

[jonjon]

The guy was from lawndale... that explains it all... the bottom line is you go in the water at your own risk... Everyone knows how evidently insane the wedge is... idiots