Attendees at the Surf City Taxpayers Association Town Hall Meeting Saturday learned about an act of heroism that occurred in our town Friday night, August 21st — and got to congratulate the heroes in person.
While walking on the beach around 5:30 p.m Friday, Surf City resident (and SCTA board member) Jean Daniels heard faint calls for help coming from the ocean. She looked out and saw a father and 4 children in the distance, drifting away from shore, struggling to stay afloat. With lifeguards off duty at 5:00 p.m., Jean immediately looked for help. She saw a man on his cell phone nearby and rushed to get him to call 911.
In an ironic twist, the man was known to her. It was Bob Fried, a fellow Surf City Taxpayer Association board member. Without wasting a moment, Bob gave his phone to Jean to call 911, grabbed a boogie board that had been left on the beach and jumped into the ocean to swim out to the family in distress.
Bob battled the current and finally reached the father and his 4 kids. With one other board already in the water, he got each one of the very frightened swimmers to grab hold of the boards. He then pulled two boards and all five people to shore.
Shortly thereafter, Surf City Police, Fire/EMS and Harvey Cedars Police arrived on the scene to make sure everyone was alright. And indeed they were, thanks to Jean’s attentiveness and Bob’s heroic ocean rescue.
We’re so very proud of Jean and Bob. Their quick thinking and selfless act of heroism prevented what could have been a very tragic accident. Both Bob and Jean were in attendance at the Town Hall Meeting Saturday, continuing on as if nothing had happened, carrying out their normal duties as board members. Both were given a very warm and very deserved round of applause from the crowd.
