Sailor Uses Scuba Skills to Save Marine from Okinawa Rip Current

A great act of heroism Lt Col Charlie Brown , a sharp salute to this sailor and his quick response.

Sometimes having a civilian sports hobby can be a wonderful thing. How many Navy personnel can say that they are certified divers? When I was stationed at Eglin, there was a couple caught in a riptide. A group of us from the Eglin Regional Hospital just happened to be having an after hours party at the beach. We all built a human chain to get close to the couple. The Coast Guard was called and on the way but, there are multiple sandbars off of Ft. Walton and Destin beaches, they could not get close enough to full the couple in. I just happened to have my mask and fins and was able to swim under the waves to get the rope closer. We were able to get the rope out to pull one person in, while the Coast Guard was able to get someone into the water to come from the other side for the older man who was losing his strength.
All that I am saying is that you never know when a riptide will show up, but during the change of tides tend to promote these dangerous situations. Be prepared.