Four people aboard a sail boat were rescued from the water after it crashed Thursday night into the Redondo Beach pier and broke apart into several pieces.
People in the boat swam out while people on the pier jumped in to help. Video showed at least one person leap from the boat as it began to capsize after it was swept into the pier by a large wave.
The wind took the sail boat into the rough waves and smashed the boat into pieces.
Sophia Sabawi was inside a restaurant with an ocean view. She said her husband called 911.
"It was scary," she said. "We were just helpless. Residents over here just started jumping off the rocks and tried to save people."
Rescuers from Redondo Beach fire and county lifeguards pulled four people out of the water.
Three men and a woman were treated for mild hypothermia. They were part of the King Harbor Yacht Club sail boat races.
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"We don't get this high winds in Redondo Beach."
