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Quick Actions Save Father and Daughters from Rip Current on Pensacola Beach

Published Oct 30, 2017

A rapid response from a bystander, Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS saved the lives of a father and two daughters who were caught in a rip current Saturday morning on Pensacola Beach and pulled approximately 300 yards offshore.

Eddie Galloway and his wife, Stephanie Galloway, were visiting Pensacola Beach from Fort Worth, Texas while on their way to Disney World when Eddie Galloway attempted to swim to a sandbar with two of their daughters. In the yellow flag surf, he became separated from the 11-year-old while holding on to their 6-year-old daughter, continuing to be pulled away from the shore by a rip current.

A bystander recognized that the trio was in distress and instructed Stephanie Galloway to call 911 while he took his paddleboard out to provide assistance until help could arrive.

Pensacola Beach Senior Lifeguard Alex Dingle responded on a surf rescue paddleboard shortly after and requested assistance, and the swimmers in distress were brought ashore by an ECFR personal watercraft. Eddie Galloway and his daughters were assessed by Escambia County EMS before being taken to Gulf Breeze Hospital for further treatment.

Stephanie Galloway, who was onshore at the time with their 10-year-old daughter, said she didn’t immediately know that her husband and children were in trouble, but she realized the gravity of the situation after the fact.

“It’s probably one of the scariest things I’ve ever been through,” she said. “At first it was very surreal, but after hearing each one of them talk about what had happened – my daughter told me she went under and was spinning twice – it’s really scary to hear.”

Galloway said it’s difficult to express just how grateful she is to the bystander and first responders for their quick thinking and actions. Her husband and daughters were evaluated at the hospital, but had no injuries and are doing well after the incident, she said.

“I’m extremely appreciative,” she said. “There is no way that I could possibly ever repay any of those people for being there that day. I went home with a full family instead of being a widow with one child.”

Escambia County Water Safety Chief Dave Greenwood praised the team effort demonstrated during the response, with Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, Escambia County Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS working together for a positive outcome.

Escambia County Emergency Communications first received the call for a water rescue behind the Holiday Inn Express on Pensacola Beach Saturday, Oct. 28 at approximately 10:28 a.m. The first lifeguard was on scene by 10:38 a.m., and the first ambulance was on scene by 10:39 a.m.

“Everything just worked really well,” Greenwood said. “I couldn’t be more happy in a situation like that where you have three different teams in the same department working as one.”

Greenwood said it’s important for the public to remember that if a yellow flag is flying, rough surf is still present. And with the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards shifting to winter staffing levels as of Oct. 16, he also emphasized the importance of calling 911 immediately if beachgoers see a swimmer in distress. Lifeguards maintain a presence on Pensacola Beach throughout the winter primarily via patrol vehicles, but lifeguard towers have been taken off the beach until spring.  

“We do have lifeguards out there, but what I want them to know is if you see someone in trouble, call 911,” Greenwood said. “That way we can get the resources to you quickly. That’s what happened in this situation.”

For more information about Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, click here or visit their Facebook page.

To learn about how to escape from a rip current, watch Escambia County's rip current video. Remember that rip currents can pull even the strongest swimmer out to sea. 

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