What has become a summer-rite of passage, has quickly gotten out of hand, according to Newport Beach lifeguards.
Throughout the years, people have jumped off the Lido Isle Bridge on Newport Beach. Whether for a rush of adrenaline or in hopes of a viral video, these stunts are putting people at risk of serious injury.
In a video posted to YouTube on Wednesday, a man is seen jumping off the bridge and onto a boat passing by. The video has more than 20,000 views.
"I don't know if it was on purpose, or if he was trying to be a showman and jump over the boat," acting Battalion Chief Jon Mitchell said. "Regardless, the calculation was wrong and serious injury could've happened."
The driver of the boat, Marilee Terrell, luckily only suffered minor injuries.
"It was like he waited for the boat to go a quarter of the way through," Terrell said. "It was all shocking to me."
Since the incident, lifeguards will be keeping a close eye on the bridge until Labor Day.
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In just 24 hours, lifeguards have stopped more than 100 people who looked to be planning to make the jump.
