Drowning Family Rescued by Beachgoers Who Make 80-Person Human Chain

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Jul 11, 2017

Drowning Family Rescued by Beachgoers Who Make 80-Person Human Chain

What started off as an enjoyable day at the beach turned into a near-death experience for one family. Thankfully, a group of good Samaritans joined together to rescue them.

According to The Daily Beast, the incident occurred at a Florida beach. The Ursrey family got caught in a dangerous rip current.

The conditions at the beach that day were defined as “yellow-flag” conditions, meaning that swimming was not recommended, but not completely prohibited.

The conditions turned out to be more dangerous than the Ursrey family had thought. Roberta Ursrey recalls seeing her sons being swept away in the dangerous current. Roberta and other members of the family swam out to rescue the boys, but they themselves became caught in the current.

Nine Usrey family members ended up being stranded and struggling for breath in the rough waters, including Roberta’s mother who suffered a heart attack.

“I honestly thought I was going to lose my family that day,” Ursrey said. “It was like, ‘Oh God, this is how I’m going.’”

But that’s when something incredible happened.

Other beachgoers noticed the family’s plight and stepped in to help. Eighty people formed a human chain which extended 100 yards. In this way they were able to rescue the Ursreys while remaining safe themselves.

“I am so grateful,” Ursrey told The Panama City News Herald, as reported by USA Today. “These people were God’s angels that were in the right place at the right time. I owe my life and my family’s life to them. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

 

Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/Ingram Publishing

Publication date: July 11, 2017



Drowning Family Rescued by Beachgoers Who Make 80-Person Human Chain