Today seemed pretty normal for a Saturday.
Sunny and gorgeous.
I woke up (missing my honey who was out of town) and rallied to shower.
Checked the weather and decided the day was too glorious to wait indoors.
So of course I logged on to warcraft.
Not, with the intention of getting sucked in to play indoors all day but rather to rally and see if Jason S. and Jackson might want to get some sunshine too and head out to the beach.
Of course, they were in game. With Ernie. And rallying to finally hit the Outlands. (Huzzah!)
By late afternoon we were ready to head out and I picked up both Jason and Jackson and mozied down to Ocean Beach. (After a stop off in Jtown for snacks first, of course).
The beach was CROWDED as clearly our idea of sunshine, fresh air, and playfulness is not an original one on a gorgeous day as was today.
Originally uploaded by Moncrief Speaks.
As we walked along getting sand under our toes we saw a guy standing about armpit deep in the rough waves waving his arm about.
Inner Monologue: “Is he saying Help? Alf? Al? Hemp? Is he just waving to friends? Is he joking?” I pointed yon at the guy.
Then we saw him collapse and fall.
Jackson and Jason immediately set forth to go help him up.
As they helped him to his feet a passerby walking his dog (herein the rest of the story called Citizen Dogwalker) rushed to me.
Citizen Dogwalker “Is he ok?Has anyone called the 911?”
Me: “No. Call 911.”
Jackson and Jason had helped Swimmer 1. to his feet and closer to shore where he promptly collapsed again, coughing.
Swimmer 1′s friend came to see how he was doing and was told by Swimmer 1 “How come you didn’t come when I was yelling HELP?!” She looked stunned and shocked.
Citizen Dogwalker had at this point flagged down the beach police patrol.
Beach Police patrol guy was questioning Swimmer 1 re: if he needed an ambulance and if anyone else was in the water with him.
Swimmer 1 responded “No, I’m alone. Charlie’s already come in, right?”
The Friend of Swimmer 1 said “No, he’s not in. Where is he?”
At that point, Jackson went out back towards the water (knee deep) to start looking for another head bobbing in the water. He was joined by 3 other Citizens who went as far out as they safely could in the rough waves to look and see if they could spot anyone.
At that point 3 very crucial things happened.
Beach Patrol called Surf and Rescue and the Citizen Dogwalker had run down the beach to see if anyone in a wetsuit or a surfer could possibly rally in the desperately shrinking window of time where someone could be dragged further out into the oceans by the riptide. The 3 Citizens and Jackson were out aligned along the water to spot.
Citizen Surfer arrived and was promptly pointed towards where a bobbing head was exhaustedly flailing and swam out to Charlie, reaching him, having him grasp his surfboard and stay afloat.
For a desperate few minutes as the sirens from Fire Engines, Surf and Patrol, and an Ambulance came to our location, the Citizen Surfer and Charlie were dragged back out by the riptide and eventually, exhaustedly made it to where the 3 Citizens were. The 3 Citizens promptly hoisted Charlie over their shoulders and brought him in towards dry land.
Charlie’s lips were blue and he looked exhausted and stunned. Absolutely silent and nominally responsive but breathing.
Charlie and Swimmer 1 were taken by Ambulances and treated for hypothermia and taken to the hospital. I imagine that they are now better, safe, and most importantly alive.
This was, most certainly, not what I’d anticipated from a leisurely sojourn and trip to the beach.
I’d say absolutely that were it not for the quick response and reaction of the Citizens in this tale, that the ending to this story might be quite different. While I have huge respect for the Beach Patrol, Surf and Rescue, and EMTs that came to the scene after the boys were on the beach and drier land, there were many crucial minutes prior to that where everyday folks wound up taking great personal concern to a stranger’s welfare to make sure that this day didn’t end up in tragedy.
Thank you to the Citizen Surfer, Citizen Dogwalker, 3 Citizens, Jackson, Jason, and all else on the beach that day that stepped up.
My faith in humanity is buttressed. (It doesn’t need restoration, just a boost).
As an after note. After all was said and done and Jackson, Jason, and I had gotten to settle our nerves and adrenaline rush from the episode, we’d gotten a bite to eat at Louie’s and walked back towards our car parked in the Ocean Beach lot.
Jackson started gazing out at the ocean as if to search for more potential vulnerable souls in need for rescue.
And I had an odd flash of a visual in my head that, well, I kind of never want to have again.
And that is of Jackson West in a bright red swimsuit a la Baywatch running in slow motion across the beach and having his man boobies heave with every breath.