The Johns family from Texas was vacationing on Nantucket the week after the Fourth of July holiday when the unthinkable happened. Sixteen-year old Erynn was splashing in the waves with a Go Pro camera attached to a selfie stick when she was caught in one of the unpredictable riptides that occasionally comes sweeping through East Coast swimming spots. Riptides are often incredibly strong, and can grab even the strongest swimmer if caught unawares. After all, even aquatic creatures sometimes need to be rescued from their natural element.
Erynn was almost immediately dragged under water, with the Go Pro camera catching much of the traumatic experienced as she was tossed up and down through the waves. Like this terrifying footage of a young boy being pulled out to sea off of Cornwall, the video gives us a harrowing view of the incident. Her father Derrick, a former Marine, quickly struck out to grab her, using the selfie stick as a handle, but was himself swept away by the raging surf. Even Erynn’s mother Jennifer almost succumbed to the furious water in her attempts to retrieve her family
Lifeguards quickly spotted the family’s plight, but the struggling family members outnumbered the lifeguards within reach. Lifeguards pulled Jennifer Johns out of the water, but before they could go back for Erryn and Derrick, another beach-goer was stepping up the plate. Tommy Vach, of Maryland, is a former lifeguard with experience in East Coast waters. He pulled the remaining Johns out of the water. By the time Derrick Johns reached the shore, he was in and out of consciousness and required medical attention.
After their rescue, Mr. Voch pulled a Cinderella and disappeared. But the grateful family was relentless in tracking down their savior, and finally managed to the connect with him. Watch below for the moment that father and daughter reunite with their selfless hero, and make sure you have tissues on hand.
And please remember! If you or a loved one is ever caught in the riptide, never try to fight the current by swimming straight back to the shoreline. Swim diagonally across the current and parallel to the beach to pull free of the current. If you get tired, get a big lungful of air and float face down to conserve energy before swimming any further.
Be safe this summer and please SHARE the happy ending to this cautionary tale!
