A US Marine veteran rushed into the Atlantic Ocean to rescue a swimmer who was trapped in a riptide along the Jersey Shore, where dangerous conditions killed two people over Labor Day weekend. Stephen Houser, 35 was filming himself surfing on Long Beach Island with his family when he spotted a swimmer, Gabe McCabe, struggling in the Atlantic Ocean.
The daring footage shows people swimming away from the riptide as Houser paddled toward McCabe, who tried to yell for help as another swimmer attempted to keep him afloat. “Thank you,” McCabe tells the veteran after catching his breath. “It whipped me around.”
“You’re alright. You’re alright,” Houser answers as he tells McCabe to focus on getting back on land.