'Selfless and brave': Sarasota County lifeguard saves family of 7 from Lido Beach riptide

An off-duty Sarasota County lifeguard saved nine swimmers – including a family of seven – that was carried more than 200 yards into the Gulf of Mexico from a rip current on Saturday.

The day before the rescue, a strong storm created dangerous post-storm conditions that could cause rip currents. Mariano Martinez was at Lido Beach following the storm when he received a water rescue alert through the Pulse Point app. The off-duty Martinez, a six-year veteran lifeguard for Sarasota County following 15 years of lifeguarding in Argentina, sprang into action.

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He grabbed a rescue tube from his car – which he always keeps on hand because he loves responding – and swam out to the nine swimmers who were caught in the rip current more than 200 yards from the shore. Two of the seven swimmers tried to rescue the others before Martinez had arrived.

He assured the group and urged them to remain calm before he began saving them with his rescue tube. He made multiple trips to bring the distressed swimmers to the shore and used bodyboards to bring them back safely.

“I can’t explain the feeling,” Martinez said with tears in his eyes. “You cannot explain when you are watching a person and his or her life is in your hands.”

Six of the swimmers were evaluated, and one was treated and released at the scene by Sarasota County Fire Department personnel.

If caught in a rip current, remain calm, signal for help and swim parallel to the shore until out of the current. Then head diagonally toward the shoreline. Visit Sarasota County’s website for beach conditions. Sarasota County Fire Department Lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily on six beaches: Lido, Siesta, Nokomis, North Jetty, Venice and Manasota.

“It’s days like this that make the work we do so rewarding,” said Sarasota County Fire Department Lifeguard Chief Rick Hinkson. “Working with someone as selfless and brave as Mariano makes it all that much better. He truly went above and beyond to save the family, and that is something to be commended. We’re proud to have him as a lifeguard here with us.”