Silver Beach lifeguards in Volusia County, Florida, revived a young child on July 30 after pulling him from the ocean and performing CPR, according to local officials and eyewitness accounts.
Lifeguard Dempsey Manhart said he was about to take a lunch break when the child’s family urgently flagged him down for help. The boy was unconscious and being held by a relative, Manhart recalled.
As Manhart moved to bring the child to shore, fellow lifeguard Mackenzie Malone arrived, checked for a pulse and the pair immediately began CPR on the beach.
Malone, now in her fourth summer on duty, said it was the first time she had rescued a child from drowning. “We are always expecting anything. We are always prepared,” she said, describing how training guided their response once she realized the child was unconscious and appeared to have a head wound.
The lifeguards said the child soon began breathing independently. Malone later said she was grateful their protocols worked and that the boy could return home to his family.
Volusia County is about 50 miles northeast of Orlando on Florida’s east coast. Social media users praised the response, with some calling the rescuers heroes.
Beach safety staff urged visitors to swim near staffed towers so trained responders can act quickly in an emergency. Officials also encouraged beachgoers to ask lifeguards about ocean conditions before entering the water, noting that elevated surf and rip currents have contributed to a high number of rescues this summer in other coastal regions.
Swimmers caught in a rip current should not fight the pull, the National Weather Service advises. Instead, remain calm, swim parallel to the shoreline to escape the current, then angle back to the beach. Those unable to break free should float or tread water and signal for help.
Silver Beach lifeguards urge caution amid strong surf
Lifeguards and water safety experts continue to remind the public that ocean conditions can change rapidly. Visitors are advised to check local flags and advisories, and to consult with lifeguards before entering the water.
Officials in Volusia County emphasize that prepared and staffed towers are essential to preventing drownings along busy stretches of coastline.
Recent violent incidents in public places, such as the Seattle food festival shooting, have also renewed broader conversations about safety at large outdoor gatherings.