An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Surfer rescues swimmers from rip current

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erik Hofmeyer
  • 482nd Fighter Wing
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  A ground radio technician from the 482nd Communications Squadron here was in the right place at the right time while surfing off the coast of Miami Beach in earlier October.

Tech. Sgt. Richard Petty noticed a commotion as a crowd of onlookers gathered yelling and pointing toward the water. The Miami resident spotted a woman thrashing in the waves while caught in a rip current, a narrow stream of water quickly traveling away from shore, far off from the beach.

Carrying his surfboard, Sergeant Petty ran to the edge of the water and scooped up a white, ring-shaped preserver, with attached rope, from a Surfside Beach police officer. The reservist then jumped on his surfboard and paddled toward the woman. As he approached her, he saw a middle-aged man who had attempted swimming out to rescue the woman.

"I threw them the life preserver and held on to the attached rope while paddling back toward the shore," Sergeant Petty said. "They were pretty freaked out and grabbing onto whatever they could."

Several first responders from the City of Surfside Beach met him as he entered the shallow waters near the shore to care for the swimmers. Sergeant Petty immediately turned his surfboard around and swam back to aid two other swimmers struggling against the current. As he met the fatigued swimmers, he helped them onto his surfboard and swam alongside them back to the shore where he was welcomed with handshakes and praise.

Sergeant Petty said never learned the rescued swimmers' names or any other personal information because the first responders were busy caring for their health. He was reassured by paramedics that they would be OK.

"I was just able to remain calm," said Sergeant Petty about managing the situation and dealing with the rip currents. "I've been surfing for 17 years and I'm very comfortable in the water." (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)