Andrew Smith, a Florida shark fisher, inadvertently became a last-minute hero. When he landed the drone, they realized that it had saved a teenage girl from drowning in a rip current at Pensacola Beach. The dramatic rescue happened soon after Smith had arrived at Crystal Beach. He’d hardly been there for ten minutes when a screaming young woman came running up to him, pleading for assistance.
The attack happened on a sunny summer afternoon, as families soaked in the sun along the sandy shores of North Carolina’s coast. Witnesses watched as the young woman began to fight against the powerful rip current, which was pulling her further and further out into the ocean. She was burning out fast. Smith, who has a seizure disorder that prohibits him from swimming, was hooked right away.
“She was running and screaming, and nobody [else out there] could swim,” – Andrew Smith
Smith was not a swimmer, but he immediately devised an alternative. He planned to use his drone to get the flotation device he was carrying to the girl who needed saving. His first go-round didn’t take. Strong winds unexpectedly threw off the drone’s navigation, causing Smith to trigger the flotation device deployment too early. The cumbersome device almost proved too much for him in the hectic environment.
Smith would not be dismayed and bounced right back. He then pleaded with a nearby bystander, who selflessly threw him the life preserver. He loaded the second device onto his drone and got ready for a second attempt.
This time, the delivery was successful. It was the flotation device that made it to the girl in time, so she was able to grab on and float to safety. Local paramedics, police, and lifeguards responded to the scene about five minutes post-rescue. Resuscitation attempt Smith saved the boy’s life. He wouldn’t have made it uninjured if Smith’s second attempt didn’t work, officials said.
“The drone can swim [even if] I can’t,” – Andrew Smith
In an interview after the rescue, Smith recounted the experience and the psychological cost it had on him. He acknowledged that it was intimidating and unsettling even for him in those high-pressure moments of the rescue.
“I was shaking pretty badly. It was nerve-wracking – I almost cried,” – Andrew Smith
Smith’s quick thinking and innovative use of technology have earned him praise from both beachgoers and local authorities. His work did more than save a life; it showcased the life-saving potential of drones in emergency scenarios.