The heroics of a local Florida surfer are being celebrated after he rescued dozens of people and pets from the devastating floodwaters of Hurricane Helene with the help of his trusty surfboard.
Marty Thomas, a lifelong resident of Indian Rocks Beach, decided in anticipation of the storm's chaos that, once the flooding hit, he would take his board out and do what he could to help.
Thomas was able to save many of his neighbors, including Anne McIntosh.
McIntosh, her brother, sister-in-law, and their pet St. Bernard were trapped in their home as it quickly filled with water.
"Before I knew it I was up to my hip in water, the furniture, the appliances, everything was floating," McIntosh told Fox13. "The beds were floating. The couch was floating. My brother and his wife were on the counters."
Thomas heard cries coming from the home and made his way over, forcing the door open, and paddling the human residents to safety on his board, ensuring the dog made it too.
"She had the St. Bernard, which is a heavy dog, you know, so she couldn't lift the dog. So, I just picked the dog up and threw it out the window. He jumped right on the paddle board and was good," Thomas told the local news station.
The humble hero downplayed the brave rescue, insisting, "Anne is tough. She didn't even need my help."
"He's an angel walking. He is the hero of Indian Rocks Beach now," McIntosh said fondly of Thomas as they were interviewed side by side. "And you do it so gracefully. Thank you. And I love you for it. And you deserve all the good things in life."
"Thank you, I appreciate that," Thomas replied. "You're pretty awesome yourself."
He continued paddling through his flooded neighborhood that day, saving people and pets into the evening with the help of a friend standing on a balcony, guiding him by flashlight.
Thomas continued to deflect praise, applauding instead the residents of Indian Rocks Beach: "My neighbors are the heroes...everybody has been coming together in this community."
"I'm just glad I could help," he said. "That's what neighbors do."
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