The moments on the sand and in the sea pay tribute to Ben Carlson, a remembrance for the lost lifeguard. But Thursday, July 6, was also a reminder of his legacy to inspire the next generation of guards.
Ben Carlson Day is an annual tradition in Newport Beach following the lifeguard’s death nine years ago as he rescued a swimmer in distress during a big swell that hit on a busy Fourth of July holiday weekend. The swimmer made it, but Carlson died.
“It’s very uplifting and that’s how we want to remember Ben and celebrate his life, what he did for our department and for lifesaving,” Newport Beach Lifeguard Chief Brian O’Rourke said.
Carlson was the first and only Newport Beach Lifeguard to die in the line of duty since the department formed in 1923.
His death was a somber, yet pivotal moment in the city’s lifeguarding history, one that sent waves of shock through the tight-knit coastal community as well as lifeguard departments across the country.
Following his death, family and friends set up the Ben Carlson Memorial & Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to drowning prevention and education.
“It’s very important to keep his legacy going, not only for what he did, but what he stood for. He was someone who believed in hard work and supporting the lifeguard team here and really represented an image of success by being mentally tough and working hard,” O’Rourke said. “He was a role model.”
The group hosts an annual conference dedicated to saving lives and each year selects scholarship recipients that mirror Carlson’s qualities of outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, service to society and sense of independence.
This year’s recipients include Newport Beach’s Chester “Chet” Clark, a Cal State Fullerton student studying communications, Valeria Gamez Hernandez, from Long Beach, who is earning a computer science and engineering degree from USC, and Samantha Tadder, of Virginia Beach, who is…
Read the full article here
