A 14-year-old boy visiting Wrightsville Beach was instrumental in saving the lives of two individuals who nearly drowned in Masons Inlet last week. Stuart Jones of Cary assisted ocean rescue efforts on June 17 said fire department Chief Frank Smith.
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Stuart Jones, 14, was influential in saving the lives of two swimmers |
The department and ocean rescue officials had responded to a report of two people signaling for help in the waters. It was later determined that the individuals had been swept out to sea by the falling tide after they tried to swim from Figure 8 Island to the north end of Wrightsville Beach.
The near drowning incident underscores the dangers of swimming in an area that is outside the town limits and not routinely patrolled. Bystanders on the north end had apparently seen the two individuals in the water waving for help, department officials said.
Firefighter EMT’s accompanied by officers with the Wrightsville Beach Police Department were first on the scene, Smith said. Ocean rescue was delayed because it had to hook up its Jet Ski to a trailer and tow it to the water.
Smith said responding emergency personnel were standing atop their vehicle and scanning the water with binoculars but rough conditions hindered their efforts to locate the victims in trouble.
Jones, whose family owns a home in Wrightsville Beach, was riding his Jet Ski in the area when he saw emergency vehicles rushing onto the beach strand. Jones said a police officer flagged him down and urged him to look for the missing individuals. Smith said emergency personnel explained the situation to Jones who then located the first person in the water and took that person aboard his Jet Ski.
Jones said he located the first victim about a half mile off the north end. Once the victim was aboard the Jet Ski, Jones searched for the second individual. Before five minutes passed, Jones said, “we spotted his friend and he was just bobbing up and down, struggling for breaths.”
Jones said he threw the second victim a lifejacket so he could stay afloat. The second victim tried to get aboard the ski but the vessel tipped over.
Meanwhile, Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue had launched its Jet Ski and made contact with the second victim, Smith said.
“He was still conscious and alert but he was fairly exhausted,” Smith said.
Rather than bringing the victim through the high surf, ocean rescue transferred him to a responding U.S. Coast Guard vessel. The Coast Guard transported the victim back to its station on Water Street where it awaited EMS transport, Smith said.
Since the first swimmer wasn’t seriously injured, Jones was able to transport him back to Figure 8 Island.
A day after the incident, Smith made contact with Jones and his family to thank him for his assistance.
“Being in the right place at the right time definitely contributed to the positive outcome of this incident,” Smith said.
“It was a new experience,” Jones said, the days following the rescue, “but it felt good to do something like that for someone.”
The rescue highlights the dangers of swimming in the waters off the north end of Wrightsville Beach where others have lost their lives.
Smith said the north end is technically outside of the town limits so it is not routinely guarded or patrolled by ocean rescue.
“Both individuals were very lucky,” he said. “If the bystanders hadn’t been on the beach in the right place to see them and report the incident it might have had a different outcome.”
