Lifeguards at Silver Beach in Volusia County, Florida, made a dramatic rescue of a 5-year-old boy on July 30, as strong ocean waves and powerful tides continue to pose challenges for vacationers and travelers.
Two lifeguards, Dempsey Manhart and Mackenzie Malone, were credited with lifesaving action after a family member flagged them down, frantically waving for help as the child was being held unconscious in the water.
Manhart began helping to bring the boy in from the water, and Malone checked the boy's pulse, prompting the lifeguards to immediately begin CPR. Malone, who has been working as a lifeguard for four summers, noted this was her first time saving a child from drowning.
The duo's swift action and training kicked in, and the child began breathing on his own again. "Thankfully, it ended up in a positive direction," Malone said. "I'm just very grateful that everything we followed worked out and that the boy is able to have a life and come home to a family."
The lifeguards emphasized the importance of swimming near staffed lifeguard towers, where trained responders can provide immediate assistance in an emergency. The rescue comes shortly after another heroic rescue by 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams in Santa Cruz, California.
Volusia County is located about 50 miles northeast of Orlando, in the east-central region of Florida. The incident serves as a reminder for beachgoers to be aware of ocean conditions and take necessary precautions to stay safe.
Swimmers caught in a rip current are advised to remain calm, swim parallel to the shoreline until they escape the current, then angle back toward shore. Those who cannot escape should float or tread water and signal for help.
