Many of us probably think that if we came across a life-or-death situation, our inner superhero would breakthrough and save the day. We’d rip off our sunglasses, T-shirt and board shorts to reveal the supernatural leotard, belt and cape hidden beneath, but when it comes down to it, most of us would probably just freeze, hoping that someone had called 911.
Well a day at the beach for self-proclaimed “average Joe” and (we are very proud to share) ES&S associate Derek Simmons and his wife, Jessica, from Panama City, turned into a heroic action after they came upon a group of around nine swimmers struggling to stay afloat off the coast of a Panama City Beach. Derek sprang into action, encouraging a group of strangers to form a human chain that stretched into the ocean to rescue the swimmers stuck in a rip current.
Simmons said he and his wife were just happy to be in the right place at the right time and to see the good in people.
“It was humbling to know that we still live in a world that still has some humanity left,” said Derek. “My gratitude is for the people who were risking their lives as being part of the chain.”
He’s no average Joe; he’s a HERO!
Check out the story on abcnews.go.com here – https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/good-samaritans-form-human-chain-rescue-swimmers-caught/story?id=48564947