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Beachgoers in Florida Panhandle form human chain to rescue family in water

Beachgoers in Florida Panhandle form human chain to rescue family in water
Posted at 8:13 AM, Jul 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-11 09:20:54-04

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Beachgoers in Florida's Panhandle formed an 80-person human chain to rescue a family that got too far out in the ocean and nearly drowned.

The Panama City News Herald reports that it all started Saturday when Roberta Ursrey noticed her sons were too far from shore at Panama City Beach and began screaming for help.

Family members swam out to get them but found the current strong, leaving nine people in about 15 feet of water.

The newspaper reports that people began forming a human chain, eventually reaching about 100 yards into the ocean.

The Ursrey family was rescued, although one woman suffered a heart attack requiring hospitalization.