NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – A man pulled from the water after being caught in a rip current in New Smyrna Beach has made a full recovery.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office said it happened Easter weekend and good Samaritans, lifeguards, deputies and firefighters worked to revive him.
“If you believe in miracles this is definitely one of them,” Deputy Stan Manhart said.
The first responders told News 6 it was a rare circumstance to have a positive outcome that day.
Lifeguards said they were called to the area near Third Avenue for people caught in the rip currents. There wasn’t a lifeguard tower set up there and when they arrived on scene, they said about a half dozen people were caught in the rip current. They said some got caught while trying to help others out.
“They were the ones who found the victim and kept his head above water before we got there,” EMT Dalton Smith said.
As lifeguards and EMTs pulled the 21-year-old out on the stretcher, deputies jumped in to help. Their body cameras showing the CPR efforts to try to get a pulse back.
New Smyrna Beach paramedics and firefighters could then be seen taking over and taking the victim to the hospital.
“We got pulses back right when we got to the hospital,” firefighter/paramedic Ty Tarnow said.
The sheriff’s office reporting the victim has since made a full recovery.
“This is my 23rd year working in and around the beach and this was the first time I’ve ever had anyone in his condition make it to where he could talk to us and interact with us,” Manhart said,
Lifeguards have been waving the red flag warning about the rip currents and expect the conditions to stick around through most of the season.
“Even on days where it’s flat and deceivingly calm looking, it can be very dangerous because that’s when the rip currents are most apparent,” Sgt. Josh Apraiz with Volusia Beach Safety said.
This year, the screenings for Volusia County Schools student athletes will be April 10-13 at the Daytona International Speedway. Parents can register their student athlete at www.VCSSportsPhysicals.com.
The screenings for Flagler County Schools student athletes will be May 15 and 16 at Flagler Palm Coast High School. To register, parents can visit FSSportsPhysicals.com.
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