Reservist rides waves, rescues swimmers from rip current

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erik Hofmeyer
  • 482nd Fighter Wing
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Tech. Sgt. Richard Petty, 482nd Communications Squadron ground radio technician, was in the right place at the right time while surfing off of Miami Beach last week.

The Miami resident noticed a commotion as a crowd of onlookers gathered who were yelling and pointing toward the water. He ran over with his board and 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.

Sergeant petty ran over to the scene and grabbed a white, ring-shaped preserver with attached rope from the Surfside Beach police officer, 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," he said about the victims' state of mind while being towed to safety.

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, and 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 he swam alongside back to the shore where he was welcomed with handshakes and praise.

Sergeant Petty never learned the rescued swimmers' names or any other personal information because first responders were busy caring for their health, but he was reassured by paramedics they would be okay.

"I was just able to remain calm," Sergeant Petty said regarding his ability to manage the situation and rip currents that can develop at any beach with breaking waves. "I've been surfing for 17 years, and I'm very comfortable in the water."