A shuttle driver in Louisiana is being praised for rescuing three tourists caught in a rip current off the coast of Elmer’s Island wildlife refuge. Jordan Matthew, from Mandeville, was driving a group of tourists from Oklahoma on June 18 when he was alerted to the emergency shortly after dropping them off at a beach on Grand Isle.

According to Matthew, a young boy had been swept into the water by a strong rip current. A woman entered the water to help him but was herself caught in the current. A third member of the group, swimming nearby, was also pulled into the dangerous waters. Matthew recalled seeing the individuals struggling beneath the waves near the shore. Despite lacking formal lifeguard training, he immediately waded into the turbulent waters to assist.

Matthew first reached the boy and the woman who had initially tried to rescue him, guiding them to shallower water before helping them back to shore. He then returned to tow the third individual, who had drifted farther out, carrying her over his shoulder at one point to bring her safely back. Matthew credited his ability to focus intensely during the ordeal, saying he mentally locked in to the task of rescuing each person in turn.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries issued a statement praising Matthew’s swift and decisive actions, noting that all three individuals made it ashore safely. The department expressed gratitude for his courage and selflessness and highlighted the crucial role his intervention played in preventing potential fatalities. Matthew said he was relieved to find the tourists unharmed physically, though shaken emotionally. The group later invited him to dinner in appreciation of his efforts.

Matthew also issued a warning about the strong tidal currents in the area, cautioning that those unfamiliar with these waters should not underestimate their power. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines rip currents as narrow, fast-moving channels of water pulling away from the shore. These currents are involved in about 100 deaths annually in the United States. NOAA advises swimmers caught in rip currents to swim parallel to the shore before attempting to return to land, rather than swimming directly against the current.

Reflecting on the experience, Matthew remarked, “If there’s calm water, there’s bound to be a rip [current],” underscoring the hidden dangers that such conditions can pose even on seemingly tranquil beaches.