MUSCLE SHOALS — “Heroes are never off duty.”
A trio of Muscle Shoals firefighters exemplified that saying with a daring water rescue while vacationing at Panama City Beach last weekend.
Chief John Hyde and firefighters Ryan Andrews and Kyle Taylor “sprang into action and saved lives, proving once again that true public servants are never really ‘off duty,'” the City of Muscle Shoals posted on Facebook.
A couple were caught in a rip current, according to Kristie Marie Bannon’s Facebook post, the firefighters were able to calm them and pull them to safety.
“”I just wanted to come on here and thank the people who saved my husband and I today,” she posted. “We were at beach access number 2 and during yellow flags we got pulled into a rip current. We panicked and a group of guys kept us calm and got us a board to help us.
“I don’t remember if I thanked them properly — I was still in shock coming out of the water. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!”
The city posted, “Their quick thinking, calm presence, and courageous action made all the difference — even while away from home. This is the heart of public safety: stepping up, no matter where you are.
“Please join us in thanking Chief John Hyde, Ryan Andrews, and Kyle Taylor for being the kind of heroes our community is so proud to call our own.”
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