"You'll be home for dinner"

This was originally a reply to wrr3rd's "Noticing others" comment on the "to surf alone or not" thread, but as you can see I went on a tangent so I made a new thread.

No doubt dude. If you're so self centered that your not looking out for other peoples safety, even if they are a block or more away your a douche nugget supreme.

A couple of years ago I paddled through a line up of 20ish said douche nuggets to save multiple people from drowning. Their blood curdling screams were heard by all and acknowledged by few. By yelling at these useless turd surfers as I zig zagged through them on my way to these victims, I was able to summon one other MANS help. These jerks couldn't even clear a path for me, let alone pause their worthless conversations. Appalling. I continued 4 blocks to reach the victims and beat the life guards to the seen (the guards had a stand right there btw).

It was a long period ground swell so huge rips would start up as sets poured in, catching unweary people off guard.

I was first on the scene and provided floatation for three people while I treaded water. They were totally gassed and going down when I arrived. I actually had to grab a sinker and an about to be sinker and place them on my 6'1"x18"x2" potato chip. The MAN on the long board showed up next and let 2 victims float with him. Then 2 "life gaurds" showed up, one with a can attached to a rope, the other just a can. I sent one victim in with the longboarder, the other with the roped can and the guard that came with it. That left me with a 200+ pound dude and a scrawny, exhausted life guard.

The "life guard" was trying to convince me to wait for another guard to show up with a roped can, that wouldn't have reached anyway, as we drifted out to sea. He couldn't swim himself in at this point, let alone drag the chubby guy in. They were both clearly terrified and I was starting to think Coast Guard chopper or get eaten, which ever comes first.

The wind was offshore, the tide was going out, and this rip was mega. I have never been that far off the beach on a surfboard in NJ. The water was warm and there were a lot of pelagic fish around.

Suddenly a huge school of Bonita got pushed to the surface from directly beneath us. We were widely surrounded by them and I knew damn well what pushed them to the surface in 30-40 feet of water. I didn't even know they were there the moment before. The two dudes were already afraid they were going to die and this added sheer terror to the mix. My visible reaction and "oh sh!t" statement didn't help. This is when I became concerned for my own safety as well as theirs.

I told them both to grab my left ankle and I was going to tow them in (my right knee is reconstructed so that leg wasn't optional). I emphasized that every move we made from this point on was going to be casual, no exceptions. I also explained that we were not taking a direct route, it would take a while, we would have to take short breaks along the way, and patience is virtue. They agreed without question. I paddled at a decent, smooth pace, and at times one or both of them would lose their grip. When they'd slip off, they would look at me with their teary eyes and say things like "please don't leave me" and "please help, I won't make it". Heavy. I had to explain multiple times that I wasn't leaving anyone and "you'll be home for dinner".

As we approached the inside breaking waves, (I didn't bring them in during a set intentionally) I told them "let the waves push you in the rest of the way". The water was chest deep at this point. As all three of us made it to our feet a life guard with a roped can came running toward us. What a f*cking joke. We all ignored him. This all went down in the coarse of 20 minutes.

The water line was packed with on-lookers and I received a standing ovation. The life guard captain shook my hand and thanked me along with the people I saved. I didn't say much, put my head down, and walked back to where I originally came from; receiving many thanks, praise, and pats on the back along the way.

I didn't do this for any type of praise whatsoever, I did it because I knew I could help, and if I didn't my conscience would never forgive me. They were literally in the process of dying. That would have sucked for a lot of people besides me and I was glad I could help.

This would have been front page news if Seaside Park didn't sweep it under the carpet to protect their reputation. They rather facilitate the facade of safety then actually provide it. It's cheaper that way and doesn't scare away tourist dollars. It reminds me of all the dangerous debris still in the ocean from Sandy, they have people thinking it's all cleaned up. It's not!!! The only people they're helping is themselves with that bull sh!t. I pulled a gnarly piece of roller coaster track out of the shore break two weeks ago. I have regularly pulled dangerous debris out of the wash since Sandy, for that matter.

Anyway, if you plan on helping someone like that, be calculated, know your limits, and don't get in over your head. There is a fine line between preventing a tragedy and becoming part of one.

 

Sick! Thank you for the kind replies and reading my long story. I don't know about waterman Slash, I don't plan on paddling from one Hawaiian island to another anytime soon or riding giant surf like these cats do nowadays. I was just there and did what I thought was right, what was necessary. The part that messed with my head most was being almost the furthest surfer from the victims and the only one to react. I still can't figure that one out and get a headache trying.

 

J st. ish and I speed paddled from C st., Seaside Park NJ.

Thanks again for the positive vibes.