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Los Angeles Countv Lifeguard divers conduct a search last Wednesday of the cave where the missing youth disappeared. Photos by Kevin CodyBody of Sacred Cove swimmer recovered after four day searchBY KEV1\ COD\The body of 18-year-old Joseph Sanchez, of Long Beach, was found Sunday, floating in Sacred Cove in Palos Verdes. Sanchez disappeared last Wednesday in a sea4cave at Inspiration Point on the east endof Sacred Cove.Los Angeles County Lifeguard and Firement divers began searching the cave last Wednesday afternoon, while *Coast Guard Life guard, Fire Department Long Beach Fire and Sheriff s rescue boats searchedthe ocean near thecave. A Coast Guard and a Sheriff's helicopter were also assisting in the search.The multi-agency response followed a 911 call received at 2:57 p.m. Wednesday. The lifeguard rescue boat Bay-watch arrived at the scene at 3:03 p.m., according to Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson Scott Miller.Frank Thomas, 72, owner of a San Pedro dump truck company, said he made the 9*11 call.I was doing my exercise on the beach at SacredCove when 1 heard the boys yelling that their friends were stuck in the cave. I grabbed one of their phones and called 911. Then we saw the lifeguard boat off Abalone Cove. So we started waving and the boat raced over.’'Abalone Cove is immediately west of Sacred Cove.“One of the boys got out. We could hear the other boy veiling, 'I'm hanging on.' Ed Butz, the Abalone Cove lifeguard, jumped off the boat and swam into the cave, but couldn't the find the boy,' Thom as said.The cave at Inspiration Point has become popular with teenagers through Instagram and other social media. The social media sites show dozens of videos of kids jumping from the top of the cave entrance. Water at the entrance to the cave is generally still. But conditions were turbulent the week Sanchez and half a dozen friends jumped into the water at thecave entrance.Thomas said thathe also made a 911 call on the day prior to Sanchez's drowning after seeing ateenage swimmerRescue boats from the Long Beach Fire Department, Los Angeles County Lifeguards Department and the U.S. Coast Coast guard participated in the search for the missing swimmer.A Los Angeles County Sheriff questions friends of the missing youth.struggling offshore at Sacred Cove. Abalone Cove lifeguard Butz also responded to that call, and rescued the teen.On the Sunday prior to Sanchez's drowning, two men visiting Sacred Cove rescued a teenage boy who had fallen into the water in front of the Inspiration Point Cave. The boy was unconscious when they brought him ashore, but the adults revived him with CPR After lifeguards arrived and stabilized the teen,he was airlifted to a hospital. ERRichard Thomas, 72, of San Pedro, called 911 when he heard the boy calling for help.
Newspaper Details
Aliso Viejo News
Aliso Viejo, California, US
Thu, Jul 17, 2014
Page 107
Full Page
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Mike M.
USA 13 Apr 2022
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