Youth Hero | American Red Cross Southern California Region

On November 14, 2019, Gavin Pike, a fifteen-year-old Laguna Beach High School student and member of the surf team, was laying on the sand at Thalia Street Beach when he noticed two swimmers in trouble. A mother and a son were struggling to keep their heads above water as a rip current rapidly took them out to sea.

Seeing that they were in danger, Gavin made his way out to them through the treacherous surf. Once he made contact, Gavin helped pull the mother and son out of the rip current, with no floatation device, and onto the shoreline. Another bystander had called 911 and Lifeguards and paramedics arrived shortly to evaluate the mother and son. They were released from the hospital later that day.

The American Red Cross is proud to honor Gavin for his courageous and lifesaving actions.