MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A Martin County employee rescued a teenage girl caught in a rip current Thursday afternoon at an unguarded Martin County beach, officials said.
Martin County Fire Rescue said paramedics took the girl to a hospital with minor drowning-related injuries after the incident at Bob Graham Beach.
Around 3 p.m., Amy Offenbach saw three girls swimming in a rip current as thunderstorms moved through the area, according to the county. Offenbach, who works in the county’s Growth Management Department and surfs in her free time, noticed one of the girls struggling.
Officials said Offenbach commandeered a surfboard and brought the teen to shore. The girl had lost consciousness after choking on water, the county said.
Offenbach then drove the teen to Jensen Beach, where members of Martin County Ocean Rescue provided medical care before Martin County Fire Rescue took her to the hospital.
Bob Graham Beach does not have lifeguards, officials said.
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The incident underscores the danger of rip currents, particularly at unguarded beaches and when storms move through the area. Swimmers caught in a rip current are advised not to fight the current directly; instead, they should float, signal for help and swim parallel to shore when able.