SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A San Diego man thanked lifeguards Thursday for saving his life after he fell from the Ocean Beach pier.
Adrian Castillo, 19, was drinking alcohol with his brother and friends in January when he suddenly fell backwards into the cold water.
Castillo’s brother called 911 and after nine minutes, lifeguards Marc Brown and Jim Lockwood found him floating face-down in the water.
Castillo was technically dead for five minutes.
He spent three days in a coma and also suffered pneumonia from the cold water.
“I have a scar in the back of my head,” said Castillo. “I have a couple of scars on my chest from grabbing on the poles.”
Castillo is now fully recovered.
“I’m very grateful,” said Castillo. “If it wasn’t for them I probably would have been lost out in the ocean for like a month or something.”
“We’re happy that you’re back and safe and alive,” Brown said to Castillo. “You have a second chance in life now.”
San Diego Lifeguards, Police and city officials want everyone who heads outdoors this summer to be educated on rip current safety, drowning prevention, bonfires and know what they should not bring to our local beaches.
The city has created a website to help guide locals and visitors to safety.
