Beachgoers make human chain to save a family from drowning in Florida

By KwakMin-jung Posted : July 12, 2017, 17:19 Updated : July 12, 2017, 17:19

A family gets trapped in the rip current and strangers at the beach join hands to save the family. [Courtesy of Pixabay]


We hear many horrifying stories that make us question if there is any drop of kindness left in humanity. This time a story of a group of strangers gathered helping to save a family restore our hope. 

A group of beachgoers at Panama City Beach in Florida quickly jumped into action to rescue a family of nine who was trapped in the current on Saturday.

It was a married couple, Jessica Simmons and her husband, who immediately took charge when they found out there were nine people drowning. The couple happened to be on the beach for a relaxing dinner. Instead, they spotted nine people who are in need.

Simmons grabbed an abandoned boogie board on the beach and started swimming to the people who were about to drown to death. Meanwhile, her husband and other people started forming a human chain and encouraging others to join. About 80 people joined to rescue the nine people.



All nine people survived and got away with one of the elderly woman suffering a heart attack during the rescue and a kid with a broken hand.

The family was later identified as Roberta Ursey and her family. The ordeal began when Ursey's tow sons got trapped in the currents. The family jumped into the water to save the boys, but instead got trapped in the rip currents, too.

The authorities were waiting for a rescue boat to help the family, but the waves were pushing the family farther out to the ocean. The concerned people at the beach took the matter to their hands.
 

[Courtesy of Jessica Mae Simmons / Facebook]


Ursey and her family are extremely grateful. She told the News Herald, "These people were God's angels that were in the right place at the right time", and added, "I owe my life and my family's life to them. Without them, we wouldn't be here."









Kwak, Min Jung = abiel@ajunews.com
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