Cherry Point Marine Drowns While Rescuing Boys

Associated Press ^ | Last updated: 5/8/2007 9:13:54 PM | Karra Strickland , Producer

[Garvin]

Master Sergeant Michael Wert and his family were visiting Fort Macon State Park last Saturday when he saw the boys in trouble.

Atlantic Beach, NC -- A memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday for a Cherry Point Marine who drowned at Atlantic Beach but who managed to save the lives of two boys he swam into the ocean to help.

Authorities say Master Sergeant Michael Wert and his family were visiting Fort Macon State Park last Saturday when he saw the boys in trouble.

[rottndog]

PGR ping.

[r9etb]

Wert's daughter took a boogie board out to help her father. She was able to get the boys onto the board and safely to shore but didn't see her father with them.

The man really is a hero -- but it's a damned shame he didn't think far enough ahead to take the boogie board for himself.

[cdbull23]

Yep, I've been caught in rip tides a couple of times, and believe me, it's not a great feeling. The thing is, a lot of times you don't realize you're caught in the rip tide until you've already tried swimming back to shore.

I remember I was walking in the water once when all of a sudden, I couldn't feel the sand under me anymore. I figured I should just swim back but realized I wasn't getting anywhere. That's when it hit me that I was stuck in the rip tide. I was lucky ... but some people aren't as lucky.

Now, I usually just go boogie boarding. If you have one of these and get caught in the rip tide, you just ride it out without wasting any energy. These things are fun AND save lives!

Prayers for this brave Marine and his family.

[ViLaLuz]

Thanks for the good advice on dealing with rip tides. Just thinking about them makes me shudder.

[StarCMC]

 

To be on or off my PGR list, please FReepmail me!

[stephenjohnbanker]

Hero BUMP!