Former Navy SEAL rescues 3 children from rip current in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE Fla WSVN Three children were rescued by a stranger after Mother Nature swept them away from the shore The children got trapped in the water following a strong rip current at a beach located off Huguenot Memorial Park in Jacksonville Saturday Thankfully former U S Navy SEAL Steven Insco was there to pull off a remarkable save Rip currents can be very unpredictable he stated Insco was at the beach fishing when he heard people screaming He ran over to see the three children struggling to swim to shore He was hovering around his sister who was the one that was laying face down explained Insco Seeing that they needed help he dove into the water I calmly yelled at him and disclosed I need you to swim towards me As soon as he got to me he grasped his arms around my neck I was able to turn his sister over and put her in a cross-chest carry and we side-stroked back to the shore mentioned Insco Insco was joined by beach patrol on shore who joined in the rescue operation to save the third child All three children are expected to be OK Volusia County Beach Safety Chief Tammy Malphurs stated this type of rescue is very common Over of their water rescues are from rip currents A lot of people come to the beach and they really underestimate the power of the rip current announced Malphurs One of the deputies who assisted in the children s rescue was just now honored by the Jacksonville Sheriff s Office for his work solving a hit-and-run involving a -year-old In another circumstance a high school learner who was days away from graduating drowned after a failed rescue in Indian River County