By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE Members of the Margate Beach Patrol were commended for rescuing a young surfer at approximately 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 after the boy was pinned against an outfall pipe.
According to Beach Patrol Chief Gregg Smallwood, the area near the Margate Fishing Pier is a popular spot for surfers, although it's a dangerous area because it is within a block of the 30-inch outfall pipe at Douglas Avenue.
The surfer entered too close to the side of the outfall pipe and the guards noticed it and were going after him when he got pinned against the pipe. It was definitely a close call, Smallwood said. The current was so strong that it pinned him up against the pipe and he may have actually gone under the pipe were it not for the guard's quick response.
Commissioner of Public Safety John Amodeo mentioned the rescue during the Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday, Aug. 20, stating the boy, estimated to be about 12 or 13 years of age, was under the water for about 30 seconds, but quickly rescued by the lifeguards who were also being pinned against the pipe.
We had a tough summer with rip currents and an extremely large number of rescues, Amodeo said. This just shows you the class of lifeguards we have. This could have been a catastrophic incident but ended up having a happy ending.
Two additional stands were stationed on the north and south sides of the pier this summer, because it is considered a dangerous area, Amodeo said.
Smallwood said all four lifeguards stationed in the area responded within seconds to rescue the boy, who was not identified.
They went over and above their normal duties because they were not only keeping an eye on the bathers, but the surfers as well, Smallwood said.
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