Hailey Heseltine
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Earlier this summer, Detective Bre Beck of Jefferson County Sheriff's office (JCSO) was enjoying an outing with family and friends at Bear Paw Adventures, a recreation center in Jackson County, Fla., when she encountered a dangerous situation and took decisive action to save the lives of two women in need.
Detective Beck was on the 3.9-mile-total stretch of river, a combination of the Spring Creek and Chipola River, tubing during a casual weekend out. At a popular exit point, she observed that rainwater from a recent storm had made the river flow faster and higher than usual, and paired with the steep, now-slippery embankments, it was difficult for some people to successfully leave the river. Her attention was drawn to two women, who were unable to remount their rafts or escape the river due to the dangerous height and speed of the water, and began crying out for help.
A nearby deputy was alerted and began preparing to enter the water and rescue them, but it took precious time to take off the heavy gear that would have greatly inhibited his swimming. Beck, who was in a swimsuit, took note and decided in an instant to help the women herself.
Rescuing individuals from drowning is very dangerous. Often, in the drowning individual's desperation, they may unintentionally drag their rescuer under. Beck was aware of this danger, and took special care as she swiftly retrieved the women, one by one, guiding them to the embankment and helping them climb to a safe distance with the aid of the onshore deputy.
“I just did what I thought anyone would do, what was right,” Beck says. “In the end, it was successful, and it was really nice.”
The deputy who she was with at the river gave her a challenge coin as a token of appreciation, respect and honor. Later, JCSO Sheriff Mac McNeill presented her with an achievement award for her decisive, self-sacrificing and heroic action.
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