About a week ago, John Grace was in Encinitas, California when he decided to give surfing a try. During his inaugural session, however, things went sideways and Grace fell headfirst into the sandbottom shore, breaking two vertebrae in his neck.
Luckily, another surfer was nearby in the water and helped Grace – who is a retired Colorado police detective – to safety. In Grace’s words, the mystery man saved his life. And now, Grace is hoping to find the humble hero in hopes of thanking him.
In a Facebook post attempting to find the rescuer, it reads:
“While riding smaller waves, he was forcefully pushed into the ocean floor, hitting his head and breaking two vertebrae in his neck. The impact left him face down in the water, unable to move any of his limbs or turn himself over to breathe.
“A nearby surfer noticed what happened and pulled Grace to shore, where Encinitas lifeguards provided emergency care. He was rushed to a local hospital and remained there for treatment through the weekend before returning home to Colorado on Tuesday. Grace believes he would not have survived without the unidentified surfer’s actions and is hoping that person will come forward so he can personally thank them.”
Related: “Screaming for Their Lives”: Surfer, 72, Makes Heroic Rescue
After the unnamed surfer was first on the scene, then lifeguards jumped in to help. Encinitas lifeguard Tanner Fritts recounted:
“We were sitting up there, and actually spotted him getting pulled out by the surfer. He did have injuries on his nose, forehead, and chin. He was talking to us…definitely in a lot of pain.”
As for the mystery man who made the initial rescue, Fritts continued:
“I never talked to him. He kinda just stepped away, and that was that.”
Somebody find this hero.
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