By Saskia Lindsay

On April 15th, 2023, Captain Brad Bemis was enjoying a beach day with his family in Garden City, South Carolina. Brad, an American Red Cross-trained lifeguard who works for the Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District, was off duty that Saturday. 

"My wife and kids and I were visiting some friends at the Garden City Pier, and we heard people running down the pier, yelling and screaming that someone had jumped off the pier and they couldn't see him anymore," said Brad.   

Brad says he quickly realized that someone was floating face-down in the water near the end of the pier. A 25-year-old man had jumped off the pier and was drowning in the rough waters. That day, the current was powerful, and the water so cold that the only beachgoers in the water were surfers in wet suits. Brad, wearing shorts and flip-flops, immediately began performing a water rescue.   

"I didn't even question it. I just went and did what I was supposed to do," explained Brad. "I knew that his only chance for survival was quick rescue to get him out of the water. It was the decision of 'Well, I've been trained, and I'm going to do it.' We act upon what is right at the time. It was the right thing to save that young man's life."    

Brad began swimming out to the drowning man, and as he was nearing him, he realized another person was struggling in the water. Brad says another person had jumped into the water to attempt a rescue, but the current was so strong that they were also being pulled under. After swimming the first person back to shore, Brad went back for the second person drowning near the pier. With the help of an onlooker's surfboard, Brad was able to get the second person safely back to shore.  

"I am a huge proponent of anyone who's going to enter the water—whether it's a pool, lake, a river, or the ocean—knowing how to swim is huge," said Brad. "Not knowing how to swim and being in the water is very dangerous - not only for you but for those who will try to rescue you." 

Because of his lifesaving actions, Brad will be honored on August 17th at 11 a.m. at the Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District with an American Red Cross Lifesaving Award – Certificate of Merit. The Certificate of Merit is the highest honor bestowed upon Red Cross trained individuals who have no obligation to respond to an emergency but do so anyway.   

Brad says his Red Cross water safety training saved lives that day and encourages others to take water safety courses. Learn more about Red Cross water safety and lifesaving courses at www.redcross.org/take-a-class.