Strangers formed an 80-person human chain to rescue swimmers from drowning

Two people running into the water.
(Image credit: iStock)

Dozens of strangers put their own lives at risk on Saturday when 10 people, including six members of the same family, got swept out to sea by a powerful riptide off of Florida's Panama City Beach, The Washington Post reports. "These people are not drowning today," Jessica Simmons, who noticed the commotion from shore, remembered thinking. "It's not happening. We're going to get them."

While responding law enforcement had determined to wait for a rescue boat, people watching on shore decided they needed to act or risk watching the swimmers drown where they were caught about 100 yards from shore. Among those swept up in the riptide was Roberta Ursrey, who became trapped when trying to rescue her 11- and 8-year-old sons, as well as Tabatha Monroe and her wife, Brittany, who had also tried to rescue the boys. Ursrey's 27-year-old nephew, 67-year-old mother, and 31-year-old husband also became trapped as they tried to rescue the swimmers.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.