First on scene to rescue 11-year-old girl who was swept off the beach at Big Lagoon State Park
“Few words can express the extreme gratitude and pride that we feel after a heroic act such as the one performed by CSLEA member Hayden McDaniel to save the life of a child. We are very proud of him and all the other first responders who came together for this lifesaving rescue. Great job! Stay safe! And our best to the child and her family.”
– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
HUMBOLDT COUNTY – Nothing but praise and admiration is being expressed for California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) member and California State Parks Peace Officer Lifeguard Hayden McDaniel after he responded to a call of a child struggling to stay above water at Big Lagoon State Park on July 17, 2025. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, Hayden was the first on scene and bravely dove in, making it through an intense eight-foot shore pound to reach the 11-year-old, calm her down, keep her afloat, and wave in their helicopter which lifted the child to safety.
Taking cues from Hayden, the Coast Guard crew was able to safely see and reach the pair in the water and then deployed a rescue swimmer in a free fall from 15 feet in the 8-foot swell.
The rescue swimmer worked with Hayden to safely put the girl in a rescue basket. The rescue swimmer performed a double pick up with the survivor in the basket and safely delivered her to awaiting EMS at the Big Lagoon State Park lot.
The Coast Guard expressed gratitude to all the first responders who arrived to help saying they all worked great together to vector in the helicopter crew and provide a safe landing area for patient transfer.
The Coast Guard also congratulated AST3 Brendon Tremblay on his first rescue! He is on temporary assignment from Mobile, Alabama and did an outstanding job on the case after arriving in Humboldt less than a week ago!
Article: Timing, Training, and Teamwork: The Rescue of the 11-Year-Old at Big Lagoon [Video of Rescue]
