On July 6th, 2014, veteran Newport Beach lifeguard Ben Carlson responded to a call of a man in distress. During the rescue, the pair were hit by a 10-to-12-foot wave. The rescuee made it to the beach, but, sadly, Carlson never did. He remains the only U.S. lifeguard to lose his life in the line of duty.
Since Carlson’s passing, local lifeguards and the community of Newport Beach at large have rallied around him – creating a memorial foundation in his honor, and erecting a statue at the base of the Newport Beach Pier.
Now, two filmmakers are endeavoring to further honor Carlson’s legacy by telling his story, and have launched a campaign on Kickstarter in order to do so.
Part of Water, according to the filmmakers, will tell Ben Carlson’s life story and those of the lifeguards across the country who put their lives on the line to keep beaches safe. The full-length documentary is planned to premiere at Hurley’s headquarters in Costa Mesa, California in April 2019.
In less than two days, the Kickstarter campaign has already raised over $16,000 of its $25,000 goal.
