Our family and neighbors recently went to the south side beach of the Indian River Inlet. The water temperature was wonderful, but the surf was rough. After weeks of jellyfish infestation, I was looking forward to swimming again in the ocean. Soon after I entered the water, a big wave captured me and slammed my head into the sand. My head felt as though it was hit by a baseball bat, my legs were rubbery, and I couldn’t stand up. As far as I could tell, I never lost consciousness, and to my core I thought I was about to die. But the action of the lifeguards not only saved my life, but also helped me avoid a life of paralysis.
These young men and women sprang to action, and they were truly a professional team. These five lifeguards acted in unison. They locked my head and neck in place while pulling me out of the water and onto a stretcher. From there, I was handled by EMS who flew me by air ambulance to Christiana Hospital.
These lifeguards must be commended. I am absolutely certain their professional and empathetic approach allowed me to dodge a bullet. I now have been discharged and still have a long road ahead of me before I fully recover. But I must thank these young lifeguards, because their quick action assured that I avoided the worst outcome.
Please don’t take these young people for granted. They train hard and they truly care. I cannot ever thank them enough for what they did that day.
I also urge everyone to go to beaches with lifeguards. We were originally going to Gordons Pond beach, but its parking lot was full, so we ended up at Indian River beach. Had this happened at Gordons Pond beach, which has no lifeguards, I may not have survived.
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