Neil Andrew Garrett

Neil Andrew Garrett helped rescue a girl from drowning, San Diego, California, May 14, 2020. A girl, 10, was unconscious and afloat in the Pacific Ocean about 375 feet from shore. The ocean was turbulent, with large and frequent waves and a strong rip current. Garrett, 39, aviation electrician, was at the beach with his family and saw the girl in the water. Garrett entered the 62-degree water and ran, then swam, with difficulty, to the girl. He grasped her by one arm, which he put over his shoulder and held to his chest while he used his other arm to swim sidestroke toward the shore, but made little progress in the rough conditions. Garrett and the girl were struck by waves and repeatedly submerged. At one point Garrett lost his grasp on the girl but quickly recovered her. A surfer approached them, and the surfer and Garrett placed the girl on the surfboard. The surfer moved to shore with the girl on the surfboard while Garrett swam behind them, and they exited the water. She was revived on the beach and taken to a hospital. Garrett was nearly exhausted after the rescue. Both recovered.