OCMD Surfer and 3 BP Swimmers Rescued from Inlet

They got caught in an inlet? What does that mean, there's only one inlet.

 

It was a slow day for the media.

 

Interestingly, only the surfer had a full body floatation device attached to him, the courageous guards each had a bouy and a mind full of foolhardiness. Basically, I suspect the Coast Guard rescued the guards and the "surfer" (if indeed he actually qualifies as a "surfer") somehow gave guards a reason to panic. We all have choices to make, so make them wisely, not out of a sense of bravado.

 

that news story gave me autism

 

Great journalism. They got "stuck in an inlet".

 

probably sucked out at the inlet... I had a near death experience years ago fighting the rip pulling me out to sea at that inlet. Gave it all I had to stay in the lineup. Like I was on a treadmill from hell. Overhead easy and so dumpy you couldnt even bodyboard these things. closing out the inlet. Realizing it was a poor choice to be out and in rising surf, I got picked up by one (forgot how) and thrown like I was doing a backflip.. headfirst right next to the jetty. On way down I thought I was going to die.... came down right next to rocks... feet away from rocks and paralysis. The next wave coming I had to bodyboard with my surfboard (things were not rideable) as I was in the impact zone... had to ride it to the right or end up riding the rocks in VAS storm surf. I got down the face and steered right as not straight into the rocks and made it in ...one of those times you end up crawling from the lineup rather than walking.

 

Amazing....

 

I don't follow this story.
sorry

 

Once in high school during a January noreaster I was in a friend's boat going somewhere near there, and he decided it would be fun to do a few circles in the inlet. Engine stalled just as a wave feathered across the mouth of the inlet. Wave didn't break and I didn't die.

 

cranking north wind, ripping south current and you decide to paddle out along with the guards allowing you to paddle out at OC inlet......stupidity on both.

 

What happened to the others in "the lineup" ?

 

I don't know what it was like at noon, but when I was out in the evening there was a definite northerly drift. Why the heck was someone at the inlet? Even midtown was working, although right on the beach.

 

My friend and I were the only ones there which was also stupid.... I made it in first and watched him come in. We were both out of breath and happy to be alive.

Not the only situation where I realized the surf wasnt as playful as I thought when paddling out. Took a twin fin on Bill years ago when OCMD through fenwick was closed (only board not in 2 pieces at the time). That was sketchy. Blew out my eardrum-

 

You were one of the guys washed into the inlet?

 

no, only accounting a story of what happened to me years ago at the same inlet. was maybe 2 minutes away from being swept out on a rising swell outgoing tide... drift was from north and I was surfing north side of the inlet.

 

I remember my first beer too..

 

Surf beach is at the inlet, it was also modified that day. Inexperienced riders see the forecast, make the drive, paddle out, become overwhelmed by bigger-than-normal conditions. 3 surfers were caught outside, 3 guards go in. Standard. 2 were able to paddle in on their own, one was not. Rather than fight to swim in the guards and the one surfer floated out with the current and CG picks them up. Standard protocol.
Slow day in the media was correct, when all eyes in MD were on the beach with a hurricane scathing the shore. Silly.

 

Unless the so called "surfer' was waving his arms and yelling "Help! Help!" it was an over reaction. The Jetty is a given rip, and the easiest way to get outside, regardless of conditions, but most surfers have sense enough to paddle north once near the end of the jetty. Earlier in the week the CG had just run a drill during lifeguard training doing just that, pulling trainees out of the inlet as they floated seaward. Again, I contend it was the guards who had questionable floatation, and probably no wetsuit in the chilly water. Brave, maybe, but also a tad foolhardy given the circumstances and conditions.

 

Step Brothers? One of my favorite movies of all time!