Large swells and spring break crowds kept the lifeguards busy on the North Shore today, said the city’s Emergency Services Department.

Ocean Safety personnel made seven rescues and gave out 1,000 verbal warnings as large swells with faces of 12 to 15 feet rumbled toward the shore.
The rescues included teenagers at Waimea Bay Beach Park who appeared to be in distress in the shore break at 10:11 a.m. One of the teens suffered a minor injury and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
At 1:17 p.m., lifeguards rescued a bodyboarder at the Waimea Bay shore break. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
“Due to the combination of the large surf and spring break crowds our personnel want to remind the public to please take the proper safety precautions,” said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the Honolulu Emergency Services Department. “This means for beachgoers to heed all warning signs and to check with a lifeguard before entering the ocean.”