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North Carolina woman rescues 3 swimmers from rip current

By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

FORT FISHER, N.C. — An off-duty Coast Guard member used her training to save three men caught in a rip current Sunday at a North Carolina beach.

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Jennifer Williamson sprang into action as the three men were swept away in the current at Fort Fisher, WECT reported. Williamson’s sister, Diana Ricker, saw the men in distress.

“I could see him start to kind of go under and waving his hands so I looked (at) my sister and I said ‘Oh my gosh, I think they’re in serious trouble,’” Ricker told the television station. “I’ve never seen anybody in distress like that in the ocean, so to see those three with just sheer panic on their face, you could just see in their eyes, it was a terrifying thing.”

Williamson, who has nearly a decade of training under her belt, said she knew she had to get to the swimmers quickly.

“My adrenaline just took over,” Williamson told WECT. “My training that I had with Coast Guard is what got me where I needed to go to help them.”

Williamson borrowed a boogie board and let the current guide her out to sea until she reached the first man, who was having difficulty keeping his head above water.

“I said, ‘Don’t panic, you’re gonna be all right,’ and when I finally reached him, the look in his eyes,” Williamson told the television station. “You could tell he was very fearful for his life. I said, ‘You’re gonna be fine, don’t worry, you’re gonna be OK.’”

After rescuing the first swimmer, Williamson paddled to the other swimmers, using the boogie board to tow all three men 150 yards back to shore.

“Everyone was clapping and the guys hugged her, high-fived her. With one of the guys, they were actually embraced arm in arm when they were walking out of the water,” Ricker told WECT. “It just gives me chills. It was definitely a very proud moment and a very happy ending.”

Williamson said she did what she had to do to save the swimmers.

“I just did what I would do any other day in uniform or not in uniform,” Williamson told the television station.

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