Sandy Hero Dead; Lifeguard Apparently Drowned While Surfing in Puerto Rico
A hero lifeguard who saved the lives of six people during Hurricane Sandy died surfing in Puerto Rico.
Dylan Smith was found dead near Maria's Beach in Rincon on Sunday after an apparent drowning.
The 23-year-old lifeguard's body was found by locals and taken to doctors who were unable to save his life, according to CBS News.
FDNY Chief Michael Light, who knew Smith, told The NY Daily News, "The same sport -- the sport of surfing -- that he used to save all those people, it's so shocking that he perished that way."
Smith was an avid and experienced surfer.
Light told The Daily that Smith "wanted to blow off some steam" surfing in Puerto Rico and that "he took a little vacation just to unwind."
Smith, a native of the New York borough of Queens, was named one of PEOPLE Magazine's Heroes of the Year for his actions during Hurricane Sandy. Smith, aided by 51-year-old Michael McDonnell, saved six people during the horrendous storm using a surfboard and a homemade rope bridge near the Rockaway Peninsula.
Katie Cregg, one of the people who were saved by Smith and McDonnell, said of her rescue:
"Michael just took charge. He looked me straight in the eye, and I knew then and there we were going to be okay. And then the kid with the surfboard arrived like an angel, and everyone's spirits lifted."
UPI reported a comment made by Smith before his death where he talked about what his thoughts were on his hero status.
"I don't think I'm a hero," Smith said. "Absolutely not. I just did what I was trained to. I'm a lifeguard. I surf. This is what I do."
Smith's death is currently being investigated by the U.S. Caribbean territory's police.
