The contest should've been canceled by one long look at the sea that day. The high winds and bone smashing waves smacked us hard in the face, screaming at us that it was too dangerous for 10-13 year olds to go in the water to compete. The officials of the competition waved off the on coming danger, telling everyone that it will calm down when the hours tick by. I was sceptical at first, being one of the surf guards at this event I could already see many dangers that could injured or worse kill a child out there in the murky sea. But somehow I was convince that everything was under control which ease off the worry I had for the young lives doing this competition, that everyone will be safe. The surf guards went to their positions for the contest, mine being out in the sea with the smashing waves on a board. I'll soon realise that I should've done something to stop the event from even happening that day.
At first it was easy to stay on the board and keep watch on the swimming competitors but in one hour time the sea got worse. The waves were higher and I was struggling to keep myself balance on the surf board. The 10th group of swimmers that went out that day, age 11 swam out 3 meters in front of me battling to get through the crashing waves. One swimmer in particular caught my attention straight on the spot.
A boy who was shorter than anyone else in this swim group was trailing further behind everyone else, getting thrown around by the murky blue waves before suddenly he disappear under water. I instantly paddle hard towards where I last saw the boy, fear flooding through me like a tornado as I arrived from he disappear from. Other surf guards that were out in the sea were coming to my aid, paddling or swimming towards where I was hands in the water grasping to anything. when I didn't grasp onto the boy I slipped off my board and into the murky water depth with one deep breath.
I had my eyes wide open trying to see a blurry outline of a boy's body. Waves tumble above me pulling me forward towards shore. I remember spotting the boy's limp body a meter below me and the panic I had as I slowly ran out of air. I was able to grasp the boys hair with my fingers before I swam towards the surface, bringing the boy with me.
Everything after coming above the surface became a blur. Ambulance arrived taking the boy from my grasped, people surround me either screaming at me in anger or concern for my health. Days latter I was told that the boy was well but it was a really close call for death.
The guilt hit me hard that day, if only I got to the boy sooner then none of this would've happen...
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Murky water ( #13ReasonsWhyContest )
Non-Fiction#13Reasonswhycontest Base on a event that happened 2 years ago. This is one of the events that I wish I could've change the outcome for. It was one of my worst mistake that I have done as a surf guard. No names were mention.
