A swimmer who was reported missing off Venice Beach early Monday was found alive on nearby rocks after witnesses said they saw him go into the ocean but never return to shore.
Los Angeles Fire Department crews and lifeguards were called to the 1500 block of Ocean Front Walk at about 1 a.m., according to KTLA.
Bystanders alerted authorities, prompting an immediate search for the swimmer.
First responders swept the beach and surrounding area before locating the man on the rocks about 20 minutes later. Los Angeles County lifeguards moved quickly to rescue him and placed him on a gurney.
He was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Officials have not provided additional information about what prevented the swimmer from making it back to the beach.
The incident came as Southern California beaches dealt with powerful surf over Labor Day weekend, with waves generated by Tropical Storm Marie pounding the coast, breaching a seawall along the Long Beach Peninsula and flooding coastal homes.
On Monday night, Long Beach Fire Department crews went door to door evacuating residents from 20 homes between 63rd Place and 67th Place after the seawall was compromised.
Heavy waves flooded neighborhood streets, tore up portions of the nearby boardwalk, and washed away protective sand berms. City building officials are currently conducting structural assessments on the affected properties, several of which sustained cracked concrete and foundation damage.
Several inches of water and sand flooded coastal neighborhoods across Long Beach and nearby Seal Beach. Residents scrambled to clear water logged debris after pounding ocean surf overwhelmed protective sand berms.
