I was recently alerted to a story about a 13 year old Boy Scout, Ryan Krank, who was vacationing on the island last May. Out on the beach he and his father noticed three women who were caught in a rip current. One of the women was in serious trouble, and Ryan went to the rescue. For his bravery he was recently honored with a Boy Scouts of America Heroism Award, only one of 3000 such awards given since they were established in 1923.
You can read more of the story here: http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_boyscout_0107jan07,0,746231.story
Ryan, your courage, bravery, and selflessness are an inspiration to us all. Thank you!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter discusses place names on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news113009.htm.
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What a brave thing for that young man to do. If there are rip currents does not the county life guard program install warning flags?. If your county basks in the limelight from the best beach moniker, it places upon the government to either ask that man to take your area out of consideration for his list or the Life guard funding has to step it up a bit in alerting the public during hazardous conditions IMHO. Now if these people clearly ignored warning flags at the shore perhaps a sign and a flag at the parking lot would help
ReplyDeleteThe previous "Anonymous" apparently has never set foot on Ocracoke.......do you think?
ReplyDeleteI agree or the first poster would know that there is "rip current" information at the beach, as well as at the National Park Service visitors bureau. Flags are always posted and notes written on a white board as soon as you come off the stairs onto the beach. You do not need to approach the stand to see the rip current information.
ReplyDeleteFor all of our readers who are not familiar with our lovely island:
ReplyDelete* We have sixteen miles of beautiful, undeveloped, pristine beach, and all of it is open to the public.
* There is a designated lifeguard beach near the village that is staffed during the summer season
* As a previous reader commented, there is adequate information about rip currents at the lifeguard beach
* In addition, motels and cottages post information about rip currents (and even provide videos to watch) to explain this phenomenon
* Village Craftsmen's web site includes a link on the home page with information about rip currents
One more thing needs to be said -- the ocean is a large and powerful force...majestic, beautiful, enthralling, embracing...and occasionally dangerous. Few of us would want to limit our enjoyment of this national treasure by restricting swimming unnecessarily, or by littering the beach with signs from one end to the other. Sometimes we just need to accept the small dangers inherent in life and enjoy the pleasures. Many residents and visitors prefer those quiet areas of our beach away from crowds where we can retreat from rules and regulations and just relax.
What a shame it would be to protect ourselves so diligently that no one could have any spontaneous fun. We are, after all, responsible for our own decisions...and some of us enjoy a little more risk than others.