Senior Airman Jacob Holle saving the world

Rosie sends us a link to the story of Jacob Holle, an Air Force meteorologist who brought his mother from Texas to Florida for a relaxing Mothers’ Day weekend, instead she got to watch her son rescue a family from a treacherous rip tide;

The family had their beach chairs in hand when Jacob Holle heard someone shouting. At first, Holle thought the shouts were from children playing on the beach, but then a woman came running up to him screaming, “Save my husband!”

That was when Holle turned and looked toward the ocean. About 50 yards out beyond a sand bar, three people – a girl, a boy and their father – bobbed and struggled in the water. The three were caught in a rip current and were being swept further out into deeper waters, at risk of swiftly drowning.

On a less-crowded part of the beach where there were no lifeguards, Holle knew he needed to take action. So, in seconds, the U.S. Air Force meteorologist waved over to another, older man on the beach to help out, and they dove into the waves and swam toward the children.

High waves made the swim tough, Holle said, and he was glad his squadron’s regular morning physical training included ocean swims.

When he and the other man reached the boy and girl, it was clear they were struggling against a rip current.

“They were all fighting it and wearing themselves out,” he said.

You should click on the link to read the rest of the long, exciting story of Senior Airman Holle’s dramatic rescue.

Category: Air Force