Couple nearly drowns off S. Florida coast
LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. (WSVN) -- A Dutch couple are thankful to be alive after nearly drowning Sunday afternoon.
The near drowning occurred off the Florida coast when a couple from Holland were nearly swept away by rip currents.
Marc Furth, a volunteer photographer for the fire department, captured the intense moments as rescue crews rushed to help the man and woman. "I didn't know what was really happening," said Furth. "I actually followed the deputy chief down on to the beach. Actually, when I saw him down on the beach, this call unfolded right there, so I was able to capture the whole thing on film."
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Jerry McIntee said the couple was lucky fire rescue was on location at the time of the incident. "If we weren't on location at that time, there's no doubt in my mind, that those two people would not be going home," he said.
Many others nearly lost their lives that day as well. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Fire Rescue said they had about five drowning calls in less than 20 minutes. "It was just a freak of nature," said McIntee. "The rips kicked in real hard, and there's an awful lot of people who don't understand rip tides in our community and as a result, a lot of people came close to seeing their maker."
Thankfully, rescue crews pulled every last person to safety, including this couple who almost didn't make it. "They were exceptionally appreciative. They don't know the blessing they had to have us all there and on location when it occurred," said McIntee.
There is a rip tide warning in effect Monday. Anyone planning to go to the beach should only swim in areas patrolled by lifeguards.
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