Lifeguards to meet man and dog they saved in January

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Five San Diego Fire Department lifeguards will get to shake hands, and paws, in Ocean Beach Friday with the man and dog they saved in January.

When the 63-year-old man took his 11-year-old dog, Sawyer to Dog Beach in Ocean Beach on Jan. 25, the playful dog was quickly swept out by the riptide. The man, who is keeping his identity private until Friday morning’s event, jumped in the surf after Sawyer.

But soon, both needed help.

That’s where the five lifeguards came in, saving the man and Sawyer. One lifeguard even performed rescue breathing on the unresponsive Sawyer, saving his life.

The man didn’t get a chance to thank his rescuers and wrote a heartfelt letter to the lifeguards instead. Fire Department higher-ups heard about the letter and thought a reunion was in order. All the lifeguards involved in the rescue will get to meet the man and dog they saved at Tower 5 in Ocean Beach.