Warm waters bring stingrays to Southern California beaches

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The warm water has attracted stingrays closer to the shoreline of Southern California beaches, causing a big pain for some beachgoers.

Newport Beach Lifeguards said stingray injuries have nearly tripled compared with this time last year.

"This time last year we had about 70 cases, this year we're at over 200," Lifeguard Battalion Chief Mike Halphide with the Newport Beach Fire Department said.

Lifeguards also said smaller surf and warmer waters have drawn stingrays closer to shore, and with more people at the beach due to hot temperatures, officials said the the odds of injuries increase.

"If you get stung you'll first feel a little prick, then it will get increasingly more painful," Halphide explained.

Lifeguards recommend soaking the wound in hot water for 45 minutes to help reduce the pain.

"It's not fun," said Nico Ramos, a Newport Beach surfer who was stung years ago while catching waves in the Philippines. "It hurt really bad, like an aching feeling so I had to go to the doctor."

Ramos said he now does the "Stingray Shuffle," which consist of shuffling his feet in the sand while in the water to help stir up sand and hopefully scare off any stingrays.

Newport Beach Lifeguards said they're seeing the most stingray injuries along Newport Pier, Corona Del Mar State Beach and West Newport Beach.