Hero of the week: Off-duty Coast Guard officer rescues three drowning men

Pop Smoke Media is proud to announce that Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jennifer Williamson is our newest hero of the week.

A Hero in and out of uniform

On May 23rd, Williamson was relaxing alongside her family at Wrightsville Beach, about 40 minutes from Fort Fisher near Wilmington, North Carolina. Williamson’s sister, Diana Ricker, was the first to notice three men being swept away by a rip current.

The three began panicking right in front of the family, as the current carried them further and further from the shore. One of the men, according to Williamson, was just barely able to keep his head above the water.

Without time to waste, Williamson snatched a nearby boogie board, and swam out to the panicked swimmers. She spoke on her motivation, by saying “My biggest thing was I cannot fail, I cannot fail.”

Once she reached them, she used the boogie board to support the men as she paddled them back. Williamson says that she picked up the man who was struggling the most first, and then came back for the other two.

In a video for the Coast Guard, Williamson reflected on her actions by stating, “One of my favorite things is just going out and being able to help people. It’s just something I’ve seen my dad do his entire military career, which is something that I model after.”