Tissues, say hello to my tear ducts. This story of a drowning family being saved by the momentous efforts of human chain has got me right in the feels.
Robert Ursrey and her husband, mother, nephews and sons were enjoying themselves at Panama City Beach in Florida when she witnessed them screaming in the yellow-flag conditioned ocean.
Desperate, Ursrey disregarded the strong tides and into the water to save her family’s lives, only to get caught up in them herself. To make matters worse, Ursrey’s mother suffered a heart attack in the water.
Passersby Jessica Simmons and her husband, who had come to the beach for dinner, noticed that everyone there was pointing at something in the ocean. Originally thinking someone had seen a shark, Simmons then realised what she was looking at.
Acting quickly, she and her husband formed a human chain with a few other people.
Braving the tides, Simmons, who considers himself ‘a really good swimmer’, was determined to get the Ursrey’s outta there.
The chain grew up to 80 people, covering over 100 yards linking back off shore.
He said:
It was the most remarkable thing to see. These people who don’t even know each other and they trust each other that much to get them to safety.
Ursrey does not remember being rescued.
She said:
I am so grateful. 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
What an amazing display of courage and compassion by all involved.
