Edward D. Hood, M.D.
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 08/07/09
Editor: On July 23 at about 4:15 p.m. at beach exit Ocean Trace, my wife and myself were relaxing on the beach and watching our grandson enjoying the ocean waves. We noticed a life guard truck stop and (its occupant) converse with the life guard. Suddenly one life guard pulled a large surf board out from the bed of the truck and ran into the ocean. The other life guard followed with an oblong life preserver. They were swimming rapidly toward two people who were hardly visible at a distance.
Other people began to notice the action and stood watching the excitement unveil. Soon a third life guard possessing a large, oblong life preserver started swimming toward the almost invisible twosome.
My wife and myself realized the two people were in distress. I walked into the water to try and observe more closely and met a gentlemen who was visiting with his wife and five children from Ohio also observing the excitement of a rescue.
My vacationing new friend and I learned the two people were indeed being pulled out by the strong current. They were unable to return to shore, with impending panic and possible disaster.
The distressed people were at a distance from the shore that you would almost need binoculars to locate their location. My friend and I reasoned that the life guard had been observing their gradual distance from the shore and then recognized their distress.
The distressed twosome were brought to shore and a tragedy was avoided by the acuteness of a lifeguard's observation and the quick response rescue action by the three young lifeguards.
My new visiting vacationer said, after a deep breath, "well trained and professional rescue at its pinnacle. The safety of St. Augustine Beach should be appreciated by all.''
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/080709/opinions_1814666.shtml
© The St. Augustine Record
No comments:
Post a Comment