Fire Department Rescues 2 Nighttime Pier Jumpers

Two young men who jumped off the Manhattan Beach Pier Tuesday around 9:30 p.m. were rescued by the quick efforts of the Manhattan Beach Fire Department, said Battalion Chief Ken Shuck.

Shuck, who was the first firefighter on scene after the call came in at 9:34 p.m., drove his fire department Suburban to the end of the pier when he realized the two men were still in the water.

With additional help not on scene yet, he looked over the side of the pier to see two men holding onto pier pilings. One of the two men said he was tired and couldn't hold on much longer, said Shuck, who then dropped a rescue can [a flexible long tube with a metal clip on the end for fastening someone to it] he connected to a rope over the side to the struggling men.

During this initial phase, Shuck also called a Hermosa Beach Fire Department ambulance, a second MBFD fire engine since his other engine was just clearing a call at 43rd Street and Highland Avenue and lifeguards to the scene.

When other firefighters arrived at the end of the pier, Shuck made the decision for fire engineer/paramedic John Dulmage, who had stripped to his shorts, to go into the ocean to assist the men.

"One guy was pretty panicky," said Shuck. "He [Dulmage] calmed him down."

As Los Angeles County Lifeguards approached on the sand from Hermosa Beach, where they staff 24/7, firefighters on the pier pulled Dulmage and the two victims toward the shore. They were met around surf break by lifeguards with a paddleboard and rescue can and brought to shore where MBFD paramedics were available to treat them, said Shuck, who had shifted full-time to his role as incident commander once other rescue personnel arrived.

The men, believed to be 19 or 20, were treated, with one who was throwing up transported to the hospital, said Shuck.

The men were fortunate he said in that the water was relatively warm, the lighting good and the surf not too big. Under different conditions, he said the rescue could have been more problematic.

Battalion chiefs typically assume the incident commander role, however, in this instance, Shuck was first on scene for some 90 to 120 seconds and had to take action. He credited Dulmage, who appeared at Shuck's side already stripped to his shorts saying he could go in the water, for his quick actions.