It was a dark and stormy day on May 10th, and the Choctawhatchee Bay was churning like no other. With tornado warnings in the area, the weather was worsening by the minute.
At about 3 o’clock, dispatch got a call from a passerby at Grady Brown Park about a jet-ski that had flipped over with two people on it.
With a strong northwest wind, the jet-ski was being pushed away from the duo, who were now in the water.
Sergeant Ragan arrived at Grady Brown and could see the two out in the bay, but the waves were pushing them west. He headed into a nearby residential neighborhood where he noticed a boat on a lift and ran to see if anyone was home.
James O’Donoghue, a Veteran and rescue diver, was sitting in his truck in the driveway. Divine timing? We think so. Sergeant Ragan asked James if he could commandeer his boat. Of course, an inquisitive James asked why. When Ragan explained the continuing conundrum, without hesitation, James said, “Let’s go!”
The two men ran to the dock and in minutes had the two individuals in the boat – both still had their life vests on. Big win.
After safely getting them into the boat, they drove over to the jet-ski, which had drifted a ways from where they fished the couple out of the bay.
With Walton County Fire Rescue, Florida EMS waiting at Grady Brown, the two made it back to dry(ish) land. Other than being a little waterlogged, they were in good spirits.
Here’s a quick timeline.
Sergeant Ragan arrived on the scene at 1509. He and James deployed the vessel at 1513. Subjects were on board at 1518.
I mean, that’s pretty impressive no matter how you look at it. All due to James’s willingness to help. Mr. O’Donoghue, sir. We need more people like you.
