The San Diego Junior Lifeguard Foundation will host a memorial swim Saturday for a former junior lifeguard and PB resident who died last summer in a fireworks explosion.
The “Willie Calabrese Memorial Run Swim Run” will celebrate the life of William “Willie” Calabrese, a 20-year-old man who sustained critical injuries in a fireworks explosion on August 31, 2012, at a minor league baseball game.
He was preparing a fireworks show for the Lake Elsinore Storm baseball game, the San Diego Padres’ minor league team, when an accidental explosion occurred. Calabrese was working for Fireworks America, a Lakeside-based fireworks company, at the time.
As a result of the accident, Calabrese sustained burns to more than 90 percent of his body. The UC Santa Barbara student, and La Jolla High School alum, died from his injuries on the morning of September 2, 2012.
Calabrese led an active life and was a former San Diego Junior Lifeguard, as well as a certified lifeguard.
Now, nearly a year after his death, his family, friends and fellow lifeguards will gather to remember his life.
The memorial swim/run kicks off the 2nd Annual San Diego Junior Lifeguard Ocean Festival, which runs from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the beach at 3400 Ocean Front Walk and 700 Ventura Place. The family-friendly event is open to the public, and will include a pancake breakfast and barbecue lunch.
For more information, visit the San Diego Junior Lifeguards website.
