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Indian Rocks Beach surfer saves a dozen trapped in flooded homes during Hurricane Helene: ‘He saved us’

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Published  October 3, 2024 2:53pm EDT
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FOX 13 News

Good Samaritan rescues neighbors

Jordan Bowen reports

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. - During Hurricane Helene's wrath along the Gulf coast on Thursday, an Indian Rocks Beach surfer paddled toward the screams of people crying out for help from their flooded homes. 

Marty Thomas rescued more than a dozen people along with their pets using just his surfboard. 

Anne McIntosh, a 27-year resident of Indian Rocks Beach, was one of those he saved from the storm surge. She said she didn’t know how she would escape when her home took on several feet of water, especially because the door wouldn’t open.

READ: Pinellas County begins storm debris pickup in neighborhoods that saw bad flooding during Helene

"The beds were floating. The couch was floating. My brother and his wife were on the counters," McIntosh said.

All three yelled for help, and two blocks down the street, Thomas heard the screams. He threw his surfboard out the window and started paddling towards the sound.

"I was walking around in the back unit just thinking, ‘what am I going to do?’ And all of a sudden I hear a voice, and he's saying, 'We'll get you. We'll get you.' And it was Marty," McIntosh said.

Pictured: Marty Thomas with the surfboard he used to rescue more than a dozen people during Hurricane Helene.

Thomas and his friend were able to pry the door open and get McIntosh, her brother and his wife to safety, and they weren’t the only ones.

MORE: Business sets up fundraiser for Seaside Seabird Sanctuary on Indian Rocks Beach

"You’re the angel of the city," McIntosh said of Thomas.

For hours, the surfer used his board to rescue about a dozen people and their pets.

"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 said.

His friend on a second floor balcony guided him using a flashing light, paddling toward any sound of people yelling for help.

READ: Brandon men brave Hurricane Helene’s wrath to save people trapped by flood waters: ‘It was very eerie’

"He saved us," McIntosh said. "He got the door open. He paddled us across to safety. And just as an angel walking."

Marty Thomas and Anne McIntosh reunited nearly a week after the surfer saved her from her flooded home during Helene. 

"Anne is tough. She didn't even need my help," Thomas said. "It was up to here on her. She was carrying stuff on her head."

McIntosh said before Hurricane Helene, it never flooded once in her area. Regrettably, she said she stayed, which is something she knows she'd never do again.

"I never flood," McIntosh said. "Well, I flooded. I’ve learned a good lesson. Thanks to my angel here. I have the choice. Next time, I will evacuate."

MORE: Pinellas County hopes water will be restored to the barrier islands by the end of the week

She said she will be forever grateful for Thomas.

"He's an angel walking. He is the hero of Indian Rocks Beach now. And you do it so gracefully. Thank you. And I love you for it. And you deserve all the good things in life," she said to Thomas.

"Thank you. I appreciate that. You're pretty awesome yourself," Thomas replied. 

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