A US Navy veteran saved the life of a man who was caught in a tidal wave in New Jersey. While filming a YouTube video of him surfing with his family at Sea Bright Beach, 35-year-old Stephen Houser spotted Gabe McCabe in distress in the Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Houser quickly transformed his surfboard into a makeshift life raft and rescued the struggling swimmer from the treacherous current.
This dangerous incident occurred on September 3, when, despite sunny weather attracting beachgoers, the lingering effects of Hurricane Idalia and other tropical storms had left the sea in a turbulent and rough state.
Watch the video here:
The Marine Veteran told me ABC news“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” McCabe said. “It just sucked; it sucked the energy out of you. It could have been very deadly with that current, and just with that inflatable board I had – a very floating one – right when Gabe grabbed that board I thought I knew that I had him.”
Mr Houser said he has saved swimmers in the past and is a surfer but he respects the water.
“I’ve been in rip currents before too; it’s scary,” he said. “Your first instinct is to panic.”
The news portal further reported that Mr. Houser and Mr. McCabe have formed a lifelong friendship, which has special significance as Houser played a vital role in rescuing McCabe from the dangerous surf, thus averting a potential tragedy.
Although Mr. McCabe was successfully rescued and brought to safety, two other individuals were tragically killed by the powerful currents along the Jersey Shore.
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