JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After what officials are calling a “treacherous” rescue, Volusia County lifeguards are now sharing how a combined effort with the United States Coast Guard led to lives being saved.
Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue lifeguards along with the United States Coast Guard rescued several people who were stuck on the jetties at Ponce Inlet on Thursday.
Lifeguards said Thursday’s rescue was one of the most intense they’ve been through.
“It was very dangerous but I’m glad I did it and everyone made it home safe,” said Volusia County Beach Safety Lifeguard, Declan Outlaw.
Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue and the United States Coast Guard came to the rescue after officials said Good Samaritan notified the Coast Guard of people waving their arms stuck on the jetties.
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Outlaw said Thursday’ s conditions quickly changed when afternoon storms rolled in.
“The waves were like four or five feet smashing on the rocks and that’s when those people got stranded out there and we had to go out there and get them,” Outlaw said.
Thomas McGibeny has been with Volusia County Beach Safety for 27 years. He said his most intense rescues, including Thursday’s, are near the jetties.
“All my top three′s are off of this jetty right here,” McGibeny said. “This is definitely in the top three for me in my career.”
Deputy Chief of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Tammy Malphurs said the combination of the choppy surf with severe weather made the rescue all the more dangerous.
“We have very skilled lifeguards in this area for those types of conditions because of the jetty and can be very dangerous,” Malphurs said. “So our lifeguards that we put here are very seasoned and experienced lifeguards.”
Malphurs said the people were out past where the railings end on the jetties and lifeguards added the jetties are currently not open.
“When you come out here, make sure you pay attention to the signs that are posted in any kind of barricades,” Malphurs said. “They were out way past an area of jetty where they were not supposed to be at.”
To stay up to date on beach conditions in real-time, you can download the Volusia Beaches app.
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