Roswell teen rescues boy, grandfather from Florida rip current

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Roswell teen is being called a hero after rescuing a man and his grandson from dangerous rip currents off the coast of Sarasota, Florida.

Clay Buchweitz told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik he was bodyboarding at Lido Beach Wednesday when he heard a cry for help. %

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“It was the day after that storm Colin had come through and the waves were still pretty big and the currents were pretty strong,” he said. “I heard a person start yelling help and I thought he was messing around at first and then I realized when I turned around to look there was a kid with him and the older guy had gone under water.”

Buchweitz, a recent graduate of Fellowship Christian School, is also an Eagle Scout. He told Petchenik his scout training immediately kicked in.

“It was almost kind of muscle memory, it was instinct,” he said. “I heard the guy yell help and immediately went into what I knew to do.”

Buchweitz said he threw his boogie board to the 13-year-old boy and pulled him to safety and then went for the grandfather.

“They were both in really severe shock,” he said.

Lifeguard Mark Miller said a woman frantically approached him asking for help.

“There were probably 25 people standing around watching him and one person over there actually trying to help the guy,” he said.

Buchweitz said he’s thankful he could step in to help.

“I wasn’t really looking for any recognition, but it definitely feels good knowing that they’re safe now and their family vacation only had a little bump in the road,” he said. “It wasn’t anything major.”

Cox Media Group