The word is getting out – don’t go in the water for 3 days after these current storms. And this warning has special meaning for Ocean Beach and Pt Loma surfers. For it wasn’t 2 and a half months ago that long-time surfer, Barry Ault, died from a bacterial infection he obtained while surfing in local waters after a storm.
Urban runoff has polluted coastal waters and the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health has issued a general advisory telling beachgoers to avoid swimming, surfing and diving in all coastal waters for 72 hours following rain. This is due to increased levels of bacteria, that is especially prevalent near rivers and outlets that discharge urban runoff, which can include animal waste, soil, and decomposing vegetation.
Local surfers may need to be reminded – or maybe not – that a well-known local surfer just died from a severe bacterial infection he got from surfing after a storm late last year. Barry Ault succumbed to a highly aggressive form of staph just days after he fell ill on Dec.23rd after surfing southern Sunset Cliffs. Tragically, Ault, 71, died Christmas Day.
Temporary warning signs are not posted for General Advisories, although many coastal storm drains within San Diego County already feature permanent warnings.
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Barry Ault.
His name was BARRY Ault.
Thanks Christo – passed the correction on to editordude who told me he corrected it. We need proof-readers, just can’t afford to pay anyone. Volunteers?
Your most welcome.
FYI- editordude corrected the first “Brian” but not the second. It’s just past the hyperlink to a previous article about Barry.
Christo