OCEANSIDE — A 12-year-old junior lifeguard is being hailed as a hero after helping rescue five people who fell into the water when a boat capsized on Sunday morning near the Oceanside Harbor jetty.
Nathan Usher, who has participated in Oceanside’s summer junior lifeguard program for four years, witnessed a 25-foot powerboat flip after it was struck by breaking surf around 10:25 a.m. Nov. 2 while he was aboard his family’s fishing boat.
According to the Oceanside Fire Department, the young lifeguard “played an impressive role in coordinating the private rescue response” after he waved down a nearby jet ski and directed its operator to help bring three of the victims to his boat.
Usher provided first aid to one victim who suffered a leg injury, applying gauze and tape to control the bleeding. When another patient began shivering, he “selflessly offered his own clothing to help keep her warm,” Oceanside Fire Division Chief Blake Dorse said in a statement.
Lifeguard personnel at Tower 14 on the harbor beach also saw the capsizing and reported that five people were in the water, prompting a response from the Marine Safety Unit rescue boat and beachfront lifeguard trucks.
The victims were brought back to the dock with help from rescuers and several nearby private vessels, including Usher’s. An Oceanside fire engine and ambulance were waiting at the pier, and three victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Usher remained calm throughout the incident, according to his mother, “demonstrating the maturity and composure of a seasoned rescuer.”
“This incident showcases exactly what the Junior Lifeguard Program is all about,” Lifeguard Sgt. Lola Swank said. “Our youth learn not only lifesaving skills but also how to stay calm, think critically, and help others in moments of crisis. We couldn’t be prouder to see one of our Junior Lifeguards put those lessons into action in a real-life rescue.”
After the rescue, lifeguards returned to the overturned vessel and towed it out of the channel, where TowBoatUS handled salvage and recovery.
The fire department reminds boaters to check ocean conditions, wear life jackets and use caution when operating on the water.
