Los Angeles County Fire Department

Vacationer in Grave Condition After Nearly Drowning at Venice Beach

A man vacationing from Chicago was in grave condition Thursday night after being pulled from high surf by friends at Venice Beach and resuscitated by lifeguards, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The 27-year-old was swimming in the water with his friends when he became separated from the group, LAFD Capt. Rex Vilaubi said.

The man's friends had not seen him for about 10 minutes and went to look for him. They found him face down in the water about 6 p.m., Vilaubi said.

Lifeguards gave him CPR, and fire officials arrived to help perform CPR and take him to the hospital. While en route, the man regained a pulse, Vilaubi said.

He was hospitalized in grave condition, officials said.

The incident comes during a week with Southern California's high surf described as "the most significantly southerly swell event" in 18 years.

A surfer died in Malibu on Tuesday, and dozens of rescued were performed across the region as waves from then-Hurricane Marie, now a tropical storm, pounded the coast.

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