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Flagler Beach, FL - Lifeguards in Flagler Beach made a surprising rescue after spotting a deer struggling in the Atlantic Ocean and safely bringing it back to shore.
The unusual rescue unfolded Sunday off the coast of Flagler Beach, where beachgoers watched in disbelief as lifeguards spotted a deer struggling in the open ocean.
According to Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Cox, the animal appeared to be in distress and was clearly unable to make its way back to shore on its own.
One lifeguard swam out to the deer and placed it onto a rescue board, a tool normally used to save drowning swimmers. .
With the help of other lifeguards, the team successfully brought the deer back to dry land.
Once safely ashore, the deer was released into the nearby woods, seemingly unharmed but visibly shaken from the ordeal.
Fire Rescue Chief Cox, who praised the lifeguards’ quick thinking and teamwork, confirmed that the rescue was led by the Flagler Beach Ocean Rescue team with assistance from a Flagler Beach firefighter.
He also shared that no one knows exactly how the deer ended up in the water or how long it had been swimming before being noticed.
While it’s not unusual for wildlife to appear near coastal areas, seeing a deer far out in the Atlantic Ocean is extremely rare.
The lifeguards’ actions turned a routine day at the beach into a moment of unexpected heroism and one beachgoers won’t soon forget