Coast Guard lifeguard dies in surfing accident

Phoenix Hanna, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, recently died in a surfing accident in California. Hanna was a third-generation Coast Guardsman, his father said, and his son’s death marks “the first time since 1967 that Hanna was not on active military duty.”

Both Hanna’s father and grandfather also served in the Coast Guard, Paul Hanna told Task & Purpose. Hanna, 29, was surfing off Coast Guard Air Station Ventura in California on June 18 when he fell, his father said. Paul said the local coroner’s office told him his son broke his neck in the fall.

“He was an outstanding Coast Guard rescue swimmer,” Paul said. “He was full of life. This is a tragic thing. We as a family tend to be a little selfish, but he’s in a better place. It’s just hard because it shouldn’t happen like this. Kids shouldn’t go before you.”

The Ventura County Coroner’s Office has ruled that Hanna’s death was an accident caused by blunt force trauma to the base of the skull and that it was a fatal drowning, the office told Task & Purpose magazine on Thursday.

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The Coast Guard Air Force Base Ventura opening ceremony, originally scheduled for June 18, has been postponed due to Hanna’s death, said Lt. SondraKay Kneen, a Coast Guard spokeswoman.

Hanna joined the Coast Guard in July 2012, Kneen told Task & Purpose. His awards include the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Department of Homeland Security Outstanding Unit Award, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, the Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation Ribbon, four Coast Guard Commandant Letter of Commendation Ribbons, the Coast Guard “E” Ribbon, two National Defense Service Medals, four Humanitarian Service Medals, the Coast Guard Overseas Service Ribbon, the Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon and four Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals.

He began his Coast Guard career in Port Angeles, Washington, where he served as a stoker on the Coast Guard Cutter Active, keeping watch and performing maintenance in the cutter’s engine room, his father said.

“Always looking for a challenge, he started hanging out with lifeguards at Air Station Port Angeles and decided he wanted to be one of them,” Paul Hanna said.

The Phoenix spent nearly nine months training for the notoriously difficult Aviation Survival Technician school in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, said Paul Hanna. He was one of only six graduates from an inaugural class of 24 and, at 19, became one of the youngest rescue swimmers in Coast Guard history.

“He was known by many in the Coast Guard as the kid who was always smiling and full of life. He was a passionate surfer and all-around sportsman who loved his craft so much that he made a special effort to teach survival skills to youth and adults in the communities he served,” said Paul Hanna.

“As a third-generation Coast Guardsman, he loved the organization that literally saw him grow into an outstanding son, brother, uncle, shipmate and all-around great guy,” Paul Hanna said. “His love of family, dedication to his job and compassion for helping others make him the kind of person we all aspire to emulate.”

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