Press Release
By City of Fernandina Beach
10/7/25
At 5:36 p.m. on Oct 7th 2025, Fernandina Beach Ocean Rescue, Fernandina Beach Fire Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, and Nassau County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the report of three children in distress in the water approximately 40 yards from shore.
The children’s father entered the water in an attempt to assist them. Two of the children were able to make it safely back to shore on their own. A bystander then entered the water with a small inflatable raft and successfully reached the father and the remaining child, bringing them onto the raft.
While on the raft, the father went into cardiac arrest. Upon reaching shore, bystanders-initiated CPR. Ocean Rescue personnel quickly arrived on scene, deployed an AED, and assumed resuscitation efforts. Nassau County Fire Rescue and Fernandina Beach Fire Rescue then took over advanced patient care. Through ALS efforts, responders were able to regain a pulse on the beach before transporting the patient to the hospital.
This incident occurred outside the city limits of Fernandina Beach in Nassau County. The location is a remote area on the southern end of Amelia Island where lifeguard patrols are not provided. In addition, because the incident occurred after 5:30 p.m., Ocean Rescue patrols had ended for the day, causing a delayed response due to Ocean Rescue Personnel having to respond from off of the beach.
At the time of the incident, Fernandina Beach Ocean Rescue was flying red flags, and the National Weather Service had issued a Rip Current Advisory.
Fernandina Beach Ocean Rescue urges all beachgoers to exercise caution when entering the ocean. If in doubt, don’t go out.
