Off-duty Sarasota County Fire Department Lifeguard Landon Lacy rescued two swimmers in distress after a rip current carried them more than 150 yards into the Gulf on May 30.
Thunderstorms struck Sarasota County that morning, typical Florida’s Gulf Coast, creating dangerous post-storm conditions, including rip currents.
Lacy, a lifeguard with the Sarasota County Fire Department, was off duty at Venice Beach when he saw someone running toward the water with flotation devices. He looked at his cell phone and saw a Pulse Point notification for a water rescue at Venice Beach. He immediately ran over and discovered a swimmer being pulled out by a rip current.
Despite being off-duty, Lacy’s instincts kicked in. He leapt into action, swimming out about 150 yards to reach two people caught in the rip current. Rip currents are powerful channels of water that flow away from the shore, capable of pulling even the strongest swimmer into deeper water. One of the swimmers had entered the water in an attempt to rescue the first person.
Lacy brought the first swimmer to shore, where they were evaluated by Venice Fire Rescue (VFR). During this time, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Section provided overwatch and direction from a helicopter due to rough water conditions.
With the second swimmer, a Good Samaritan still in the water, Lacy borrowed a rescue board from VFR and reentered the water. He reached and stabilized the second swimmer until a VFR rescue boat arrived and brought the swimmer back to shore for evaluation.
Both swimmers were evaluated at the scene by City of Venice Fire Rescue personnel.
“I’m glad we were able to work together to get the swimmers to safety,” said Lacy. “This is why rip currents are dangerous. They will pull you out quickly. It’s important to stay calm and call out for help in these situations.”
Lacy’s quick thinking and decisive action averted a potential tragedy and exemplified the highest ideals of public service in Sarasota County.
Rip currents are dangerous. Swimmers should always swim near a lifeguard and know their limits. Remember “If in doubt, don’t go out.”
If caught in a rip current:
Remain calm.
Signal for help.
Swim parallel to the shore until you escape the current.
Then swim diagonally toward the shoreline.
For Sarasota County, beach conditions, go to visitbeaches.org.
Sarasota County Fire Department lifeguards are on duty, in their lifeguard stands, from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily on six beaches: Lido, Siesta, Nokomis, North Jetty, Venice and Manasota.
Learn more about rip currents and rip current safety here.
