Basketball Players Saved From Surf

Members of a Norwegian junior basketball team were rescued by lifeguards Wednesday after becoming trapped in rip currents off Ocean Beach.

Lifeguard Bruce Robinson said that lifeguards noticed people struggling in the water about 12:30 p.m., and, with the help of a rescue board, buoy and fins, three lifeguards were able to help the nine teen-agers to safety.

“We rescued nine people in about two minutes,” Robinson said. “We were pretty busy.”

All 15 members of the basketball team were in the water at the same time, but six youths were able to return to the shore without assistance, Robinson said. None of the boys required hospitalization.

According to Robinson, the rip currents are caused when water from waves crashing onto low points in the beach washes quickly back to sea. The meeting of incoming and outgoing currents creates an extent of rough, broken water.

“This might be a good reminder for people to ask the lifeguards where it is safe to swim,” lifeguard John Greenhouse said. “A lot of people just jump in the water. They should check with the lifeguard to make sure the area they are swimming in is not dangerous.”

The basketball team--made up of 17- and 18-year-olds--had just arrived in San Diego from New York, and is scheduled to play several local high school teams, Robinson said.