I made a short emergency trip , I was robbed and hurt on my way back to the hotel . I need a little favor from you..
Leigh
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Thanks for the Support
Dear Miami Beach Commissioners,
PLEASE SAVE THE LIFEGUARDS WHO SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS!
The lifeguards and Ocean Rescue on South Beach saved my husband's life when he drowned in a surfing accident last March (Ocean Drive and 4th St.). He was pulled out of the water, resuscitated, taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, and eventually had spinal surgery. His name is Stephan Linn, Ph.D., and is a local particle physicist who works at FIU. He has happily surfed the South Beach waves for 40 years with no incident until this accident on March 22. Had it not been for the lifeguards, Ocean Rescue and Miami Beach Police Department, Steve would not be alive today.
I understand that the City of Miami Beach is undergoing severe budget cuts and staffing reductions. PLEASE DO NOT REDUCE THE BUDGET FOR LIFEGUARDS AND OCEAN RESCUE!
The proposed budget cuts would reduce the numbers of lifeguards on-patrol, reduce the pay of those remaining, and eliminate training funds. It would also close down many of the iconic lifeguard towers -- the internationally-recognized symbol of Miami Beach.
Without these dedicated City of Miami Beach employees, the lives of millions of residents and tourists who enjoy South Beach are truly at risk. Can you imagine the media stories around the world if tourists start drowning on YOUR beach? Can you allow budget-cutting measures to risk lives and stop drawing million of international and local tourists, the lifeblood of Miami Beach and its biggest business? Miami Beach and all of Miami-Dade County cannot afford to loose our biggest asset because of proposed budget cuts to the lifeguards and Ocean Rescue.
Find budget cuts elsewhere, please, if you must.
My husband is doing OK, thanks to the dedicated City of Miami Beach lifeguards, Ocean Rescue and Police Department. He is waiting for the waves and will get back on his surfboard on South Beach soon.
Thank you, Islara Souto-Linn
PS Out of respect for my husband, I have withheld the pictures of when he was pulled out of the water and resuscitated.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Beach Bums Ocean Mile Swim Series Results to Date
Well, with the stiff ENE winds we have had to postpone the third and
final swim until next Saturday, the 20th of October. Be at South Point
Park by 6:30 am to register and get body marked for the swim.
Here are the results to date!
MIAMI BEACH OCEAN RESCUE SWIM #2
Beach Bum Swim Results (Overall)
1 Mile Swim
Place
Reg # First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Overall Gender Age Group
106 Isa Padilla 38 F
23:15 1 1 35-44
18 Jessie Chanying 28 M 23:21 2
1 25-34
111 Desi Stoyanova 35 F
23:24 3 2 35-44
112 Camille Newman 23 F 23:26 4
3 0-24
3 Willaim Zenga 57 M 24:03 5
2 55+
9 Eric Wynne 49 M 24:23 6
3 45-54
14 Jonathan Hernandez 36 M 24:24 7
4 35-44
119 Brittany Austin 26 F 24:29 8
4 25-34
2 Hugo Vila 48 M
25:31 9 5 45-54
1 Luiz Andrade 42 M
25:59 10 6 35-44
105 Danielle Maham 42 F 26:47 11
7 35-44
120 Tayli Ramos 35 F
27:31 12 8 35-44
107 Maria Paiva 47 F
27:48 13 9 45-54
5 John Masarik 59 M
28:22 14 6 55+
4 Ricardo Perez 54 M 28:39 15
7 45-54
104 Ellen Proger 50 F
29:25 16 10 45-54
6 Tyler Dunkin 20 M
29:59 17 8 0-24
110 Kathy Rivera 34 F 30:26 18
11 25-34
115 Jessica Evans 33 F 30:27 19
12 25-34
12 Juan Zanbranu 37 M
30:42 20 9 35-44
11 Manny Mendez 33 M 30:47 21
10 25-34
102 Alice Henley 23 F
30:48 22 13 0-24
13 Mario Diaz 41 M
30:50 23 11 35-44
109 Megan Balkenbush 28 F 30:55 24
14 0-24
118 Jennifer Moos 29 F 31:00 25
15 25-34
24 Alex Montero 40 M
31:59 26 12 35-44
20 Robert Yeske 38 M 32:14 27
13 35-44
21 Francisco Lopez 42 M 32:22 28
14 35-44
7 Lee Smith 28 M 32:46 29
15 25-34
25 Marcell Osuath 22 M 33:54 30
16 0-24
17 Phil Gross 43 M
35:05 31 17 35-44
10 Mark Milisits 46 M
35:18 32 18 45-54
113 Mayra Plaza 51 F 35:50 33
16 45-54
116 Diane Davis 54 F
35:30 34 17 45-54
16 Henry Batievsky 45 M 36:13 35
19 45-54
103 Buzzy Darden 64 F 39:43 36
18 55+
8 Lamar Lewis-Sutton 40 M 39:59 37
20 35-44
22 Octavio Diaz 40 M
40:11 38 21 35-44
117 Marisca Veriteesh 55 F
42:50 39 19 55+
15 Larry Sovoka 64 M
43:58 40 22 55+
23 David Guiney 33 M 48:11 41
23 25-34
114 Tracey Burger 40 F 49:44 42
20 35-44
19 Luiz Segatto 54 M
54:50 43 24 45-54
108 Ann-Lynn Denker 61 F DNF 21
MIAMI BEACH OCEAN RESCUE
Beach Bum Swim Results (Age Group)
For the first two swims we will not do overall awards in this series
as we are assigning age group points to be assigned in order to
determine Overall Series and Age Group Awards for the final swim.
Men Mile Swim
Age Group: 0-24
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series
Points Race #2
1 Tyler Dunkin 20 M 29:59 15
25 Marcell Osuath 22 M 33:54 14
Age Group: 25-34
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series
Points Race #2
1 Jessie Chanying 28 M 23:21 20
2 Manny Mendez 33 M 30:47 14
3 Lee Smith 28 M 32:46 13
4 David Guiney 33 M 48:11 12
Age Group: 35-44
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series
Points Race #2
1 Jonathan Hernandez 36 M 24:24 15
2 Luiz Andrade 42 M 25:59 14
3 Juan Zanbranu 37 M 30:42 13
4 Mario Diaz 41 M 30:50 12
5 Alex Montero 40 M 31:59 11
6 Robert Yeske 38 M 32:14 10
7 Francisco Lopez 42 M 32:22 9
8 Phil Gross 43 M 35:05 8
9 Lamar Lewis-Sutton 40 M 39:59 7
10 Octavio Diaz 40 M 40:11 6
Age Group: 45-54
Age Group Place
First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Eric Wayne 49 M 24:23 18
2 Hugo Vila 48 M 25:31 14
3 Ricardo Perez 54 M 28:39 13
4 Mark Milisits 46 M 35:18 12
5 Henry Batievsky 45 M 36:13 11
6 Luiz Segatto 54 M 54:50 10
Age Group: 55+
Age Group Place
First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 William Zenga 57 M 24:03 19
2 John Masarik 59 M 28:22 14
3 Larry Sovoka 64 M 43:58 13
Women Mile Swim
Age Group: 0-24
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Camille Newman 23 F 23:26 18
102 Alice Henley 23 F 30:48 14
Age Group: 25-34
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Brittany Austin 26 F 24:29 15
2 Kathy Rivera 33 F 30:26 14
3 Jessica Evans 33 F 30:27 13
4 Megan Balkenbush 28 F 30:55 12
5 Jennifer Moos 29 F 31:00
11
Age Group: 35-44
Age Group Place
First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Isa Padilla 38 F 23:15 20
2 Desi Stoyanova 35 F 23:24 19
3 Danielle Maham 42 F 26:47 13
4 Tayli Ramos 35 F 27:31 12
5 Tracey Burger 40 F 49:44 11
Age Group: 45-54
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Maria Paiva 47 F 27:48 15
2 Ellen Proger 50 F 29:25 14
3 Mayra Plaza 51 F 35:50 13
4 Diane Davis 54 F 35:30 12
Age Group: 55+
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Buzzy Darden 64 F 39:43 15
2 Marisca Veriteesh 55 F 42:50 14
Ann-Lynn Denker 61 F DNF 1
MIAMI BEACH OCEAN RESCUE
Beach Bum Swim Results (Overall Series Points)
Men Mile Swim
Age Group: 0-24
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Tyler Dunkin 20 M 13 15
Jovanni Roman 21 M 15 0
Ryan Flavin 23 M 14 0
Marcell Osuath 22 M 0 14
Age Group: 25-34
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Lee Smith 28 M 15 13
Jessie Chanying 28 M 0 20
Manny Mendez 33 M 0 14
David Guiney 33 M 0 12
Age Group: 35-44
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Ramses Rodriguez 40 M 19 0
Phil Gross 43 M 10 8
Jonathan Hernandez 36 M 0 15
Sean Blesi 44 M 14 0
Luiz Andrade 42 M 0 14
Robert Yeske 38 M 13 0
Juan Zanbranu 37 M 0 13
Alex Montero 40 M 12 0
Mario Diaz 41 M 0 12
Matt Berning 40 M 11 0
Alex Montero 40 M 0 11
Robert Yeske 38 M 0 10
Phil Villegas 39 M 9 0
Francisco Lopez 42 M 0 9
Lamar Lewis-Sutton 40 M 0 7
Octavio Diaz 40 M 0 6
Age Group: 45-54
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2 Points Race
#3 Points Series Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Eric Wayne 49 M 13 18
Hugo Vila 48 M 12 14
Ricardo Perez 54 M 11 13
Ricardo Valvida 47 M 20 0
Jeff Moore 44 M 14 0
Mark Milisits 46 M 0 12
Henry Batievsky 45 M 0 11
Luiz Segatto 54 M 0 10
David Alyea 46 M 10 0
Tom Krasner 50 M 9 0
Age Group: 55+
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2 Points Race
#3 Series
Points Points
William Zenga 57 M 15 19
John Masarik 59 M 14 14
Larry Sovoka 64 M 13 13
Don Mitchell 65 M 13 0
Women Mile Swim
Age Group: 0-24
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Camille Newman 23 F 20 18
Alice Henley 23 F 14 14
Julie Berning 24 F 13 0
Age Group: 25-34
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Brittany Austin 26 F 0 15
Kathy Rivera 33 F 15 14
Jessica Evans 33 F 0 13
Megan Balkenbush 28 F 0 12
Jennifer Moos 29 F 14 11
Age Group: 35-44
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Isa Padilla 38 F 18 20
Desi Stoyanova 35 F 19 19
Danielle Maham 42 F 0 13
Tayli Ramos 35 F 0 12
Tracey Burger 40 F 0 11
Age Group: 45-54
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2 Points Race
#3 Points Series Points
Maria Paiva 47 F 15 15
Ellen Proger 50 F 0 14
Mayra Plaza 51 F 0 13
Diane Davis 54 F 12
Age Group: 55+
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2 Points Race
#3 Points Series Points
Buzzy Darden 64 F 0 15
Marisca Veriteesh 55 F 0 14
Ann-Lynn Denker 61 F 0 1
final swim until next Saturday, the 20th of October. Be at South Point
Park by 6:30 am to register and get body marked for the swim.
Here are the results to date!
MIAMI BEACH OCEAN RESCUE SWIM #2
Beach Bum Swim Results (Overall)
1 Mile Swim
Place
Reg # First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Overall Gender Age Group
106 Isa Padilla 38 F
23:15 1 1 35-44
18 Jessie Chanying 28 M 23:21 2
1 25-34
111 Desi Stoyanova 35 F
23:24 3 2 35-44
112 Camille Newman 23 F 23:26 4
3 0-24
3 Willaim Zenga 57 M 24:03 5
2 55+
9 Eric Wynne 49 M 24:23 6
3 45-54
14 Jonathan Hernandez 36 M 24:24 7
4 35-44
119 Brittany Austin 26 F 24:29 8
4 25-34
2 Hugo Vila 48 M
25:31 9 5 45-54
1 Luiz Andrade 42 M
25:59 10 6 35-44
105 Danielle Maham 42 F 26:47 11
7 35-44
120 Tayli Ramos 35 F
27:31 12 8 35-44
107 Maria Paiva 47 F
27:48 13 9 45-54
5 John Masarik 59 M
28:22 14 6 55+
4 Ricardo Perez 54 M 28:39 15
7 45-54
104 Ellen Proger 50 F
29:25 16 10 45-54
6 Tyler Dunkin 20 M
29:59 17 8 0-24
110 Kathy Rivera 34 F 30:26 18
11 25-34
115 Jessica Evans 33 F 30:27 19
12 25-34
12 Juan Zanbranu 37 M
30:42 20 9 35-44
11 Manny Mendez 33 M 30:47 21
10 25-34
102 Alice Henley 23 F
30:48 22 13 0-24
13 Mario Diaz 41 M
30:50 23 11 35-44
109 Megan Balkenbush 28 F 30:55 24
14 0-24
118 Jennifer Moos 29 F 31:00 25
15 25-34
24 Alex Montero 40 M
31:59 26 12 35-44
20 Robert Yeske 38 M 32:14 27
13 35-44
21 Francisco Lopez 42 M 32:22 28
14 35-44
7 Lee Smith 28 M 32:46 29
15 25-34
25 Marcell Osuath 22 M 33:54 30
16 0-24
17 Phil Gross 43 M
35:05 31 17 35-44
10 Mark Milisits 46 M
35:18 32 18 45-54
113 Mayra Plaza 51 F 35:50 33
16 45-54
116 Diane Davis 54 F
35:30 34 17 45-54
16 Henry Batievsky 45 M 36:13 35
19 45-54
103 Buzzy Darden 64 F 39:43 36
18 55+
8 Lamar Lewis-Sutton 40 M 39:59 37
20 35-44
22 Octavio Diaz 40 M
40:11 38 21 35-44
117 Marisca Veriteesh 55 F
42:50 39 19 55+
15 Larry Sovoka 64 M
43:58 40 22 55+
23 David Guiney 33 M 48:11 41
23 25-34
114 Tracey Burger 40 F 49:44 42
20 35-44
19 Luiz Segatto 54 M
54:50 43 24 45-54
108 Ann-Lynn Denker 61 F DNF 21
MIAMI BEACH OCEAN RESCUE
Beach Bum Swim Results (Age Group)
For the first two swims we will not do overall awards in this series
as we are assigning age group points to be assigned in order to
determine Overall Series and Age Group Awards for the final swim.
Men Mile Swim
Age Group: 0-24
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series
Points Race #2
1 Tyler Dunkin 20 M 29:59 15
25 Marcell Osuath 22 M 33:54 14
Age Group: 25-34
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series
Points Race #2
1 Jessie Chanying 28 M 23:21 20
2 Manny Mendez 33 M 30:47 14
3 Lee Smith 28 M 32:46 13
4 David Guiney 33 M 48:11 12
Age Group: 35-44
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series
Points Race #2
1 Jonathan Hernandez 36 M 24:24 15
2 Luiz Andrade 42 M 25:59 14
3 Juan Zanbranu 37 M 30:42 13
4 Mario Diaz 41 M 30:50 12
5 Alex Montero 40 M 31:59 11
6 Robert Yeske 38 M 32:14 10
7 Francisco Lopez 42 M 32:22 9
8 Phil Gross 43 M 35:05 8
9 Lamar Lewis-Sutton 40 M 39:59 7
10 Octavio Diaz 40 M 40:11 6
Age Group: 45-54
Age Group Place
First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Eric Wayne 49 M 24:23 18
2 Hugo Vila 48 M 25:31 14
3 Ricardo Perez 54 M 28:39 13
4 Mark Milisits 46 M 35:18 12
5 Henry Batievsky 45 M 36:13 11
6 Luiz Segatto 54 M 54:50 10
Age Group: 55+
Age Group Place
First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 William Zenga 57 M 24:03 19
2 John Masarik 59 M 28:22 14
3 Larry Sovoka 64 M 43:58 13
Women Mile Swim
Age Group: 0-24
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Camille Newman 23 F 23:26 18
102 Alice Henley 23 F 30:48 14
Age Group: 25-34
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Brittany Austin 26 F 24:29 15
2 Kathy Rivera 33 F 30:26 14
3 Jessica Evans 33 F 30:27 13
4 Megan Balkenbush 28 F 30:55 12
5 Jennifer Moos 29 F 31:00
11
Age Group: 35-44
Age Group Place
First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Isa Padilla 38 F 23:15 20
2 Desi Stoyanova 35 F 23:24 19
3 Danielle Maham 42 F 26:47 13
4 Tayli Ramos 35 F 27:31 12
5 Tracey Burger 40 F 49:44 11
Age Group: 45-54
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Maria Paiva 47 F 27:48 15
2 Ellen Proger 50 F 29:25 14
3 Mayra Plaza 51 F 35:50 13
4 Diane Davis 54 F 35:30 12
Age Group: 55+
Age Group Place First Name Last Name Age Gender Time Series Points Race #2
1 Buzzy Darden 64 F 39:43 15
2 Marisca Veriteesh 55 F 42:50 14
Ann-Lynn Denker 61 F DNF 1
MIAMI BEACH OCEAN RESCUE
Beach Bum Swim Results (Overall Series Points)
Men Mile Swim
Age Group: 0-24
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Tyler Dunkin 20 M 13 15
Jovanni Roman 21 M 15 0
Ryan Flavin 23 M 14 0
Marcell Osuath 22 M 0 14
Age Group: 25-34
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Lee Smith 28 M 15 13
Jessie Chanying 28 M 0 20
Manny Mendez 33 M 0 14
David Guiney 33 M 0 12
Age Group: 35-44
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Ramses Rodriguez 40 M 19 0
Phil Gross 43 M 10 8
Jonathan Hernandez 36 M 0 15
Sean Blesi 44 M 14 0
Luiz Andrade 42 M 0 14
Robert Yeske 38 M 13 0
Juan Zanbranu 37 M 0 13
Alex Montero 40 M 12 0
Mario Diaz 41 M 0 12
Matt Berning 40 M 11 0
Alex Montero 40 M 0 11
Robert Yeske 38 M 0 10
Phil Villegas 39 M 9 0
Francisco Lopez 42 M 0 9
Lamar Lewis-Sutton 40 M 0 7
Octavio Diaz 40 M 0 6
Age Group: 45-54
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2 Points Race
#3 Points Series Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Eric Wayne 49 M 13 18
Hugo Vila 48 M 12 14
Ricardo Perez 54 M 11 13
Ricardo Valvida 47 M 20 0
Jeff Moore 44 M 14 0
Mark Milisits 46 M 0 12
Henry Batievsky 45 M 0 11
Luiz Segatto 54 M 0 10
David Alyea 46 M 10 0
Tom Krasner 50 M 9 0
Age Group: 55+
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2 Points Race
#3 Series
Points Points
William Zenga 57 M 15 19
John Masarik 59 M 14 14
Larry Sovoka 64 M 13 13
Don Mitchell 65 M 13 0
Women Mile Swim
Age Group: 0-24
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Camille Newman 23 F 20 18
Alice Henley 23 F 14 14
Julie Berning 24 F 13 0
Age Group: 25-34
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Brittany Austin 26 F 0 15
Kathy Rivera 33 F 15 14
Jessica Evans 33 F 0 13
Megan Balkenbush 28 F 0 12
Jennifer Moos 29 F 14 11
Age Group: 35-44
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2
Points Race #3 Points Series Points
Isa Padilla 38 F 18 20
Desi Stoyanova 35 F 19 19
Danielle Maham 42 F 0 13
Tayli Ramos 35 F 0 12
Tracey Burger 40 F 0 11
Age Group: 45-54
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2 Points Race
#3 Points Series Points
Maria Paiva 47 F 15 15
Ellen Proger 50 F 0 14
Mayra Plaza 51 F 0 13
Diane Davis 54 F 12
Age Group: 55+
First Name Last Name Age Gender Race #1 Points Race #2 Points Race
#3 Points Series Points
Buzzy Darden 64 F 0 15
Marisca Veriteesh 55 F 0 14
Ann-Lynn Denker 61 F 0 1
Monday, October 8, 2012
2013 season swim test announced!
The online application portal has been opened for the 2013 season .
Go to www.miamibeachfl.gov to fill out your lifeguard application and find more
information.
Go here to find the application on the bottom of the page!
http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/hr/jobs.aspx
Go to www.miamibeachfl.gov to fill out your lifeguard application and find more
information.
Go here to find the application on the bottom of the page!
http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/hr/jobs.aspx
Friday, August 17, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Miami Beach Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Wins Big at The National Lifeguard Championships!
Our Own Miami Beach Ocean Rescue Lifeguard and 2005,'07,'09 National Champion Peter Praktakov does it again!
At this years National Lifeguard Championships that are currently being held in Cape May, Peter wins Gold in the Ocean Swim Race and the Run Swim Run competition and if thats not enough he grabs silver in the 2k Beach Run!
Peter you are an outstanding Lifeguard and Athlete and an inspiration to all of us!
Congratulations on this remarkable achievement!
At this years National Lifeguard Championships that are currently being held in Cape May, Peter wins Gold in the Ocean Swim Race and the Run Swim Run competition and if thats not enough he grabs silver in the 2k Beach Run!
Peter you are an outstanding Lifeguard and Athlete and an inspiration to all of us!
Congratulations on this remarkable achievement!
Monday, August 6, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Hands Across the Sand
Today, 4 August, several local nature-awareness groups celebrated our commitment to alternative energy, and our opposition to more offshore oil drilling, on the shoreline of south Miami Beach. Several dozen of us joined hands and invited a couple hundred more beach-goers to join hands with us for just a few minutes right about 1200 noon. This event takes place around the world on this day, at this time. It began the year before the disaster in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, know more familiarly as the Deepwater Horizon oil well explosion. The turn-out for the event the year of the explosion was enormous - millions of people world-wide joined hands for this critically important effort. The meditation of joining hands in solidarity with alternative fuels, is at once an awareness-raising as well as an opportunity for all of us to participate in creating a future everyone can live with - ALL of us earthlings. For further info please see nottheanswer.org or surfridermiami.org. =]
Reporting issues on your beach or in your neighborhood is now easy!
Download the Application: Report it, Miami Beach. Available free on all smartphones!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
South Beach Lifeguards Kevin Stockhausen, Andy Lindberg and Mike Petker Saved My Life By Davy V.
On Wednesday July 18th, 2012, I almost died.
While in Miami, Florida on vacation with my sons and my niece, we went to South Beach for some fun in the water.
While my son David stayed on the sand, my son Danny, my niece Anne Marie and I got on an inner tube and were floating on the clear, calm waters of the Atlantic ocean.
At one point, my son and my niece got off the tube, and I remained on.
After a few minutes, I decided to get off.
As soon as I did, I immediately knew I was in trouble.
You see, I don't know how to swim. it's embarrassing to admit this, but it's the truth. I never learned how to.
I sank straight down as soon as I hit the water, it had to be at least a 20 foot drop.
I then recall hitting the bottom of the ocean floor, and bouncing back up.
When I surfaced it was only for 2-3 seconds at most. my head was barely above water as I gasped for air trying to see who was around, as I yelled "Help!"
I could see my son and my niece and the inner tube floating about 10 feet away.
I tried to reach for it but couldn't reach it.
I sank back down again.
I remember swallowing large amounts of water, each time I gasped for air, before sinking once again.
This went on for several minutes. With each time I re-surfaced and sank again, I swallowed more and more water.
Each time I came back up, I recall thinking why isn't anyone coming to save me.
Could they see me?
Could they hear my cries for help?
At one point I saw that the inner tube was close enough for me to reach, I tried grabbing it, but it slipped away.
The next time I re-surfaced, I was able to grab the tube again, but this time it flipped upside down, and once again I couldn't get a grip on it, and down I went again.
It was at this point where I remember feeling extremely exhausted and a strange, eerie, yet almost peaceful feeling set in.
One of feeling at peace with the fact that I was going to die.
That this is how it was going to end for me.
It was also at this point when my children's faces started to flash in my mind.
I remember seeing my 3 year old daughter Isabella's beautiful face and thinking I would not get to see her graduate school or get married and start a family of her own.
I remember seeing my son's and my niece's faces and thinking how much I love them, and how I was going to die on their vacation.
I was sinking at this time, only different than the other times.
I was falling backwards and there was no more fight left in me.
I could see the sun shining through the water above me as I sank deeper and deeper.
I remember everything was quiet.
I remember closing my eyes.
Then nothing but quiet for a bit.
Then I felt a hit from behind.
And I could feel hands grabbing me and pulling me back up to the surface.
I was on my back and all I could see was blue sky and several men's faces telling me "We got you."
Three years ago I was hit by car.
Yesterday I almost drowned.
I guess God has a plan for me.
Thank you Jehovah.
I'd like to thank the heroes who saved my life.
Thank you to South Beach lifeguards Kevin Stockhausen (LG 101), Andy Lindberg (LG 201) and Mike Petker (LG 101).
Thank you also to Ms. Toni Bucacci (Lt.)
I will never forget all of you.
Thank you.
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