A southern California surfer captured video of three people repeatedly beating a beach lifeguard after an argument exploded into violence.

The lifeguard, who has not been named by authorities, is seen arguing with a party of beach-goers before climbing down from his stand at Venice Pier in Los Angeles around 7.15pm on Thursday.

As soon as he jumps to the ground he is repeatedly punched and kicked by two men and a woman believed to be intoxicated.

The men push the guard up against the pier and begin hitting him before he fights back and knocks one of the attackers unconscious by punching him as he lay on the ground.

A southern California lifeguard was attacked after an argument with a party of beachgoers on Thursday evening. Above, the unidentified lifeguard climbs down from his post

As soon as the lifeguard had descended, he was immediately attacked by two men and a woman at Venice Pier in Los Angeles

The lifeguard is seen being punched and kicked by the unidentified suspects in sporadic bursts of fighting punctuated by his coworkers breaking up the violence

'He sexually harassed me,' the woman is heard saying before the parties split up.

The lifeguard heads back towards his stand and is briefly entangled with one of the suspects before his coworkers separate them again.

Surfer Romy Dee continued recording the violence as the woman who claimed she was sexually harassed began punching the guard before another lifeguard tackled her to the ground.

'I'm suing you,' the woman says as she goes back towards the unconscious man.

An LAPD spokesman told Daily Mail Online that the lifeguard was 'defending himself'. He was taken to the hospital and released after being treated for minor injuries.

At one point the lifeguard fights back and knocks a man unconscious after punching him while he lie on the ground

One suspect in the video (left) claims that the lifeguard sexually harassed her and that she will sue him. The unidentified woman charged at the guard before others brought her to the ground (right)

The unconscious man was also taken to the hospital and was in an unknown condition as of Thursday night. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

He and the two other suspects were taken into custody.

LA County Lifeguards captain Ken Haskett told ABC7 that it is a felony to assault lifeguards, who are 'peace officers' employed by the fire department.

In the video the lifeguard who was attacked claims that the suspects had flicked a cigarette at his tower.

LAPD lieutenant Daniel Gonzalez told NBC Los Angeles that the suspects were believed to have been intoxicated at the time of the incident.

The unconscious man was taken to a local hospital. His condition was unknown Thursday night but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening