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Video Shows Lifeguards Rescuing Couple After Big Wave Slams Jet Ski Into Rocks In Newport Beach

NEWPORT BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A couple almost died after being thrown off their jet ski by a massive wave in Newport Beach Saturday. Their terrifying ordeal was caught on camera.

Witnesses posted on YouTube their mobile phone videos showing a gigantic wave smashing their watercraft against the rocks at The Wedge, tossing them into the water as they were pummeled by wave after wave.

Lifeguard Brandon Hodding said "It was a 20-foot wave that took those people out. Boat on the rocks at Wedge, which is a really bad call. We never want to hear that."

Lifeguards battling powerful waves rushed to rescue the couple. Even off-duty lifeguards jumped in to help.

Hodding said they tried to tie a line around the personal watercraft when another set of giant waves nearly took out the rescue boat.

"I had to call it off because there's no way I'm losing my boat to rescue a PWC," he said.

Lifeguards said they warned the same couple just 15 minutes earlier not to get so close to shore. "They were told to stay out. But apparently, they did not heed that warning and ended up on the rocks at The Wedge," said Newport Beach Lifeguard Brent Jacobsen.

Amazing, the couple wasn't hurt. Lifeguards said had they not been wearing life jackets, this story would have had a very different ending.

"The life jackets aren't very comfortable. They'll unbutton it or unzip it or unhook it. And if they had done that, I don't know that they would have been here." Hodding said.

Lifeguards said they had put out thousands of warnings to boaters. By law, they are supposed to stay 1,000 feet away from shore.

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