A hero deputy guided three girls struggling in a rip current at Lovers Key State Park on Sunday.
The girls were enthusiastic with their ‘thank yous’ as a fully dressed Deputy Raymond Tellez Ferriol, with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, rushed in the Gulf and guided them to shore amid anchored pleasure crafts and a pontoon.
A video shows the girls bobbing about 5 yards out drifting rapidly and parallel to the shore with Ferriol ripping off his belt, shoes and socks before heading in otherwise clothed.
Two of the girls wore life preservers.
He quickly got them beachside, while an off-camera man gave a quick lesson on how to avoid the rip currents the next time they braved an adventure.
At least one onlooker gave Tellez Ferriol a fist bump as his wet uniform left pools in the sand and the girls ditched their life vests.
“It started taking us and we couldn’t swim,” one of the girls said, taking deep breaths. “Thank you so much.”
The lesson was quickly reiterated.
“If that ever happens when the current takes you, just float with it until it stops and then swim back in easy,” the off-camera man told them.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno lauded his deputy.
“I’m proud of the courage and selflessness our deputies show every day,” he said.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Girls heap praise on deputy who rescued them from Gulf rip tide
Reporting by Stacey Henson, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
