Florida Deputies Save Drowning Woman with Quick CPR

When beachgoers spotted a woman floating face down in the ocean Saturday morning, they did exactly what could save a life: they flagged down help immediately.

Deputies Gourley and Manhart from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office were nearby at New Smyrna Beach when they got the alert at 10:15 a.m. Deputy Gourley charged into the shallow water without hesitation, pulling the unresponsive 68-year-old woman to shore.

The situation was critical. The woman had no pulse and wasn't breathing.

Body camera footage captured the dramatic moments as Deputy Gourley dragged the woman from the waves, with another person quickly jumping in to help. Once on shore, both deputies immediately began performing CPR on the beach.

Their training paid off. After precious minutes of life-saving efforts, the woman's heart started beating again.

Beach Safety teams arrived and continued medical care before transporting her to the hospital. She was stable when she arrived, a remarkable turnaround from the terrifying scene just minutes earlier.

Why This Inspires

This rescue worked because multiple people did the right thing at the right moment. The beachgoers who spotted trouble didn't assume someone else would help. They took action and found the nearest deputies.

Deputy Gourley didn't wait for backup or specialized equipment. He ran straight into the water, located the victim, and got her to shore where CPR could begin. Deputy Manhart joined immediately, working together to restart a stopped heart.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office announced that both deputies will receive life-saving awards for their heroic actions. But the real award is knowing a grandmother, mother, sister, or friend gets to go home to her family.

This story reminds us that emergency training matters. CPR skills turn ordinary people into lifesavers. The deputies' quick thinking transformed what could have been a tragedy into a testament of hope and human courage.