Lifeguard saves woman, boy from rip current

PALM BEACH SHORES — A 49-year-old woman and her 8-year-old son were rescued Monday morning after being pulled from the ocean near Palm Beach Shores.

The woman and child were about 300 yards offshore when they encountered trouble, said Lt. Dave Taylor, a lifeguard assigned to Palm Beach Shores. Taylor called the Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office marine unit, then swam out to the mother and son with a rescue board.

Taylor said a rip current had pulled the woman and the child into the Atlantic.

During the rescue, Taylor placed a floating tube around the woman’s waist, and the child hung on to the rescue board until the marine unit arrived a few minutes later.

Taylor said the mother and son were calm throughout the ordeal.

“They were fine. There was no panic,” he said.

Neither the mother nor the child was hurt, Taylor said. However, they were taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach for evaluation, a spokesman for Riviera Beach Fire Rescue said.

Taylor estimated the waves were about 4 to 6 feet in the waters just north of the Palm Beach Inlet. Red flags were posted near the lifeguard stand, indicating either high surf, strong currents or both. The National Weather Service has issued rip current and small craft advisories through this morning for Palm Beach County’s coastal waters.

“If a swimmer sees a red flag, they should not go in the water,” Taylor said. “But if they do go in the water, they should stay close to shore and next to a lifeguard stand.”