Video capturing the harrowing moment shows the girl screaming in terror at a harbor in Oceanside, Calif.
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A 6-year-old girl was swept out to sea while playing in shallow water on a California beach
- The girl’s father attempted to rescue her, but he ultimately was overcome with exhaustion and was unable to swim them to safety
- The quick thinking of a heroic stranger then saved their lives
A 6-year-old girl nearly drowned at a California beach — until a local surfer came to the rescue.
Coco Green was recently playing in shallow water at Oceanside Harbor in Oceanside when a rip tide pulled her out to sea, according to Fox 5 San Diego and The California Post.
“I told her, you know, don't go by the jetty, just 'cause the current typically sucks you out," her father, Chris Green, said while speaking to Fox 5.
“Next thing you know, she says she stepped in a hole, and [the tide] just kind of swept her out,” he added.
Credit: Getty
“I just took off and swam out there, as fast as I could,” Chris recalled.
However, Chris said that when he finally reached Coco, he realized he was physically exhausted and did not have the strength to pull them to safety.
And that’s when a stranger came to the rescue.
Lucas Tuab, a local surf instructor who was coaching a competition nearby, happened to see Chris and Coco struggling in the water. He jumped into the ocean while fully clothed and swam out to the father and daughter.
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Video of the harrowing moment shows Lucas approach Chris and a terrified Coco — who was screaming — and ultimately drag them to safety on the rocks of the jetty.
Credit: Getty
“There wasn't a second that went through my mind that I wasn't gonna jump in that water,” Lucas said while speaking about his decision to Fox 5.
“I knew it was a matter of seconds between life or death, and I knew that was my calling right there,” he continued. “God put me on that jetty at that moment to be that person to serve. And be that person … to help, you know?”
“And I don't think all the attention should be on me … I think this should be more all about how humans should really just look out for one another, and that's the moral of the story, I believe,” Lucas added.
Chris and Lucas met up the day after the incident to share a hug.
“I don't know what would have happened if he [Lucas] didn't jump in,” Chris told Fox 5. “But I’m very thankful that he did.”
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Lucas has been surfing his whole life and has been a surf instructor for the past eight years, according to The California Post.
He said that he usually coaches competitions from the sand, but decided to coach from the jetty rocks on a whim that day — a decision which ultimately led him to see Chris and Coco struggling in the water, per the outlet.
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