'These people are not dying today': Human chain saves screaming family from drowning in the sea
Beachgoers in Florida formed a human chain to save a family stuck in a riptide in the Gulf of Mexico.
Roberta Ursery began making her way back in from the surf at County Pier, Panama City Beach when she noticed her family struggling to stay afloat, WTVR reports.
It was then she heard her family screaming.
"They were screaming and crying that they were stuck. People were saying 'don't go out there',” she said.
But Mrs Ursery swam back out to help them and got caught in the current herself.
At the same time, her mother stricken mother suffered a heart attack.
With the family stuck in the current and struggling to stay afloat dozens of beachgoers came to their rescue.
Forming a human chain, 80 people linked arms and stretched over 90 metres from the shore into the sea to save the family.
Jessica Simmons, who stood at the end of the chain, told NWF Daily News, she “practically lived in a pool” at home.
“I knew I could get out there and get them,” she said.
“These people are not dying today.”
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Mrs Simmons and her husband then dragged the swimmers, starting with the children, towards the end of the chain.
Safe ashore and thankful, Mrs Ursery said she thought she was going to lose her family.
“It was like 'Oh God, this is how I'm going,” she said.
The beachgoers’ actions helped save Ms Ursery’s mother who suffered a heart attack while caught in the current.
A GoFundMe page has been started to help her recovery after Ms Ursery said she “died on us for a few minutes”.
Her mother is now awake but reportedly is still suffering from heart and stomach problems along with pneumonia.
