Fishing off the coast of Deal Island, Maryland, a thunder storm bringing huge waves capsized a boat causing a family of five to fight for their lives. One member of the boat decided to swim how long to get help??
Contessa Riggs, her brother John Riggs, her 70-year old father, 9-year-old niece, and 3-year-old son were fishing when a wave crashed into their boat and filled it with water. The 16-foot-long boat began to sink, leaving the family vulnerable in the cold and jellyfish-infested water. They clung to the capsizing boat for about an hour and a half before swimming to shore was even a thought. Running out of light and the storm in the distance, they knew that another boat would not pass by them, so John Riggs decided to swim to shore to get help.
John swam 5 hours to shore to save his sister, her father, and the children. John was so exhausted after reaching land, he crawled to the closest house to get help. It was 1 A.M. when he arrived at a house, where they had a personal number to the fire chief.
They were clinging on the boat for 8 hours before volunteer firefighters pulled them out of the water. Thanks to John’s bravery, everyone is safe after the life-threatening experience.
via [abcnews]
