Kelly Slater Saves Toddler From Drowning in Oahu
Kelly Slater is being hailed a hero this week after rescuing the wife and toddler son of Australian surf photographs, Chris White. According to reports a rogue wave swept across the Kamehameha Highway on Oahu and swept up Sara White and Van White, who was in a stroller, in the white water, threatening to drag them both out to see.
Slater lept into action and grabbed the stroller, which had been flipped upside down, to pull the boy from underwater. Van had water and sand in his nose, ears and throat and could easily have succumb to the ocean’s wrath.
White took to Instagram to give thanks to his family’s savior:
“So thankful the surf gods denied @kellyslater today cos for whatever reason he was right there to save my wife and kid who were swept across a road by a freak wave today. Forever grateful to the great man and so thankful my family is alive and safe 👊🏼 ❤️💙 Thanks to all the lifeguards too who saved many lives today.”
Slater downplayed the event, diverting the attention to Lifeguards.
“I didn’t look at it that way but for some random reason I stopped there when I normally don’t and happened to be there,” he wrote. “Lifeguards were on it either way and had it handled. So glad all is well and we can (someday) laugh about it. Van’s first wave was a huge one!”
Regardless of who gets the credit, God Bless Kelly Slater for his quick thinking and humble nature.