Drone Saves Swimmer from Deadly Riptide

Pensacola Beach Rescue: Fisherman's Drone Saves Swimmer from Riptide A dramatic rescue unfolded on Pensacola Beach, Florida, on May 15th, when a quick-thinking fisherman used his drone to deliver a life preserver to a swimmer caught in a dangerous riptide. Andrew Smith, a local fisherman and drone enthusiast, witnessed the swimmer struggling far from shore. "She was going way out really fast," Smith recalled in a video interview. "She was screaming, 'Can anybody swim?'" Realizing the urgency and the distance from the shore, Smith improvised, using his drone, normally used for fishing, to deliver a life preserver. His first attempt missed, but he successfully delivered the life preserver on his second try. The video shows the swimmer grabbing the life preserver and being pulled to safety. EMTs arriving on the scene later stated that without Smith's intervention, the swimmer likely wouldn't have survived. This incident highlights the unexpected ways technology can be used in emergencies. Smith's resourceful actions underscore the importance of community involvement and the potential of readily available technology to save lives.