Many beachgoers enjoying the waters off Newport Beach on the July Fourth holiday were in for a rude awakening. Lifeguards rescued 350 people Friday after the surf turned dangerous. In one instance, multiple people were rescued from a “monster rip current,” according to social media posts from Newport Beach Lifeguards.

Leal said he remembered advice from his mother and began swimming parallel to the shore when a group of strangers approached and asked if the boys needed help.