“They Were Holding On for Life”: 18-Year-Old Surfer Reveals Riveting Details on Saving the Life of 3 Stranded Swimmers in New Jersey

There are times when the most ordinary of human beings can become the most unexpected of heroes. Being in the right place at the right time could save many lives. Luckily, an 18-year-old boy named Chase Calhoun was in the right place at the right time when he decided to go surfing in New Jersey. Call it fate or destiny, but Calhoun was able to save the lives of a few stranded swimmers.

For Chase, it must have started out like any normal day. After deciphering it was the perfect weather to catch some waves, Calhoun made his way down to Ventnor City Beach with his friends. As they got ready to ride some waves, the water revealed a sight they could not ignore.

Surfing expedition turns into a rescue mission

Chase Calhoun was ready to dive into the water and ride his surfboard into wave-heaven when suddenly his friend gave him distressing news. The 18-year-old’s friend, whose identity has not been revealed, informed Chase that some people were stranded under the Ventnor City Fishing Pier and needed rescuing. The three swimmers who needed rescue comprised a man and two women, the identity of the victims unknown.

As soon as Calhound came to know about their ordeal, he immediately climbed aboard his surfboard and paddled towards the swimmers in need of rescue. The swimmers were stuck in the water, and holding on to the woof of the pier, hoping they would not drown. In an interview with 6 ABC News, Calhoun recalled the incident, and said, “They were just holding on to the pylons, like wrapped around the piece of the wood, like lookin’ like they were holding on for life. I’m a strong swimmer, I surf a lot, I never had to rescue anyone though.” Chase and his friend made their way to the three on their surfing equipment and helped them get on their surfboards.

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As the 18-year-old and his friends managed to bring two of the swimmers near the shore, the lifeguards arrived in the meantime. They liberated the third person and helped get everyone out of the water. While Chase Calhoun did not get the time to introduce himself to the stranded victims, he did confirm that none of them were injured. The 3 swimmers were fortunate that Calhoun and his friend came surfing to the pier and saved them. Recently, a 17-year-old boy was not that lucky.

Weekend swim results in a tragic fate

The lifeless body of a 17-year-old boy was discovered on Shannon Beach after he went missing while swimming in the ocean nearby. The spine-chilling incident occurred after the teenager went swimming with his friends around 100 yards away from the beach. As the group of friends frolicked together, one of his mates suddenly realized the victim was not above the surface of the water. After a search that did not yield any results, rescue teams were contacted.

Stoneham and Winchester’s firefighters responded to them and started trying to discover the body. After a while, the body was discovered by a team of divers 6 feet deep under the ocean. Unfortunately, the teenager was unresponsive and could not be saved. It is not a stretch to say that these three swimmers could have met the same tragic fate, had Calhoun and his friend not jumped in to rescue them.

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