A Jacksonville Beach man who nearly drowned in April is now back on his feet and reuniting with the crews who helped save his life.<\/p>\n
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. \u2014 A Jacksonville Beach man who drowned in April is now back on his feet and reuniting with the people who helped save his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I was a goner,\u201d said 19-year-old Joshua Clemons.<\/p>\n
Clemons, who has lived in Jacksonville his entire life, was swimming with friends near 6th Avenue South around 7 p.m. on April 20 when a wave knocked him down and a strong undertow pulled him farther into the ocean.<\/p>\n
His friend, Corey Brennan, had only known Clemons for a short time. Now, the two say they are forever connected.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe grabbed my socks and said I won’t let you drown, and I blacked out,\u201d Clemons said.<\/p>\n
As Clemons struggled in the water, Brennan tried to keep him afloat.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis head started bobbing up and out of the water,\u201d Brennan said. \u201cSo I did what I could and reached in, grabbed him and tried to get him as close as I could to shore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lifeguards had already ended their shift for the day when the call came in.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was about 7:04 when we were all about headed out from work,\u201d said Evan Rhodes, an EMT lifeguard with Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue. \u201cA late call came over the radio saying there were swimmers screaming for help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rhodes and Assistant Captain Rob Emahiser rushed back to the beach, opening their vehicle bay and heading to the scene, where bystanders flagged them down.<\/p>\n
Rhodes grabbed a rescue buoy and swam out.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I got to them, there was one bather being supported by the other who was completely unconscious,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Clemons was pulled from the water and rushed to the hospital, where he spent several days on life support.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville Beach Police Corporal Jason LaMont also responded and helped with the rescue. Clemons says the experience is still difficult to process.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was actually tragic, man\u2026 but thank God,\u201d he said, recalling the support from friends, first responders and hospital staff.<\/p>\n
Those involved say it took a team effort, from friends in the water to lifeguards and emergency crews on shore.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s family to me,\u201d Brennan said. \u201cI told him I wasn\u2019t going to let anything happen to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was pretty scary in the moment,\u201d Rhodes said. \u201cBut we train for this all the time\u2026 it was the right place, right time, and I\u2019m happy to see the outcome of him standing right here.\u201d<\/p>\n
LaMont also praised the rescue team\u2019s response.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey truly are the best lifeguards in the country,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat they did that day, it mattered and truly made a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now recovering, Clemons recently reunited with the responders who helped save his life. Officials say the incident is also a reminder of how quickly conditions can turn dangerous in the ocean.<\/p>\n
They urge swimmers to always go with a buddy, avoid the water at night and be aware of their limits.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t overestimate your abilities or underestimate how much power there is in the ocean,\u201d Emahiser said.<\/p>\n
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