Lifeguards Honored With Medals Of Valor For Heroic Rescue

REDONDO BEACH, CA — Two lifeguards were honored with Medals of Valor for their heroic rescue of a person drowning off the Venice Pier during Fourth of July celebrations.

Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Max Malamed and Ocean Lifeguard Ryan Aronson accepted their awards at the Medal of Valor dinner on Wednesday during the 61st annual International Surf Festival in Redondo Beach.

“We are delighted to recognize these exceptional acts of courage and public service, combined with professionalism and quick thinking,” said Chris Linkletter, President of the International Surf Festival. “Our event proudly celebrates these L.A. County Ocean Lifeguards who embody going above and beyond the call of duty.”

On July 4, 2023, Malamed and Aronson received a call about a person who had jumped off the pier into the ocean during dangerous conditions. With fireworks overhead, the pair performed a night pier jump into large surf to rescue a woman who was apparently experiencing a psychiatric emergency.

Malamed and Aronson were able to get the woman away from the pier and swim her up the coast and get out of the water safely.

“This was a bread-and-butter rescue for us," Malamed said. “But with the dynamic of it being nighttime, and with not a lot of resources available, with the crowd and the fireworks show going on, all of that combined to make the scene extremely chaotic.”