Florida rip current nearly drowns 3 kids during T-ball team's beach day: 'Help me! Help me!'

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A T-ball team's anticipated fun-filled Florida formation time abruptly turned terrifying erstwhile 3 young children recovered themselves caught successful a unsafe rip current.

A bully Samaritan's speedy reasoning and heroic actions by Jacksonville Sheriff's Office officers averted imaginable calamity Saturday day astatine Huguenot Memorial Park successful Jacksonville.

"Help me! Help me!" That’s what officers heard from a young lad caught successful the rip current. Moments earlier, deputies saw beachgoer Steven Insco carrying a tiny lad and miss retired of the water.

Hearing the child's cries for help, Beach Patrol Officer Tyler Sweeney instantly shed his vest and gear, grabbed a buoy and plunged into the water, the sheriff's bureau said. At the aforesaid time, Officer Billy Crocker tended to an unconscious 8-year-old miss and prepared to statesman CPR. After giving her a sternum rub, she began to amusement signs of recovery. 

The photograph beneath shows her successful the betterment position. WARNING: Viewer discretion advised.

Firefighters rapidly arrived, started oxygen and rushed the miss to a adjacent hospital. Meanwhile, Sweeney located the lad successful the surf and brought him safely backmost to shore.

"We are grateful that each 3 children are good today, knowing this could person easy ended successful tragedy," the sheriff's bureau said.

Notably, the sheriff's bureau said Crocker was precocious recognized arsenic the department's Police Officer of the Month for his exemplary enactment successful solving a hit-and-run lawsuit involving a 6-year-old.

"We can’t accent h2o safety enough," the sheriff's bureau warned. "Rip currents and unsmooth surf are deadly. Adults and children request to beryllium other cautious, cognize their swimming abilities, and, if successful doubt, enactment out."