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Groom Risks Life During His Wedding Photos To Save Drowning Stranger

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Beaches will always be the world’s favorite serene, awe-inspiring places.

From the endless hours of enjoyment to be had in the water to soaking up much-needed rays of sun, it’s no wonder visiting a beach is the ideal vacation.

The beach is such an iconic vacation in most seasons that it’s where paramedics Graeme Cooper and Danielle Kellan took an ill woman for her final journey.


The ebb and flow of the ocean waves, in particular, create a calming sense of consistency in nature that in turn produces peace in the sunshine.

But when you look out and spot red flags along the beach, that’s a sign to stay within the green flags, as far away from the red as possible. In fact, swimming in red zones would most likely mean the high tide would sweep you out to sea, and before you know it, a lifeguard may have to come to your aid.

For Orange Beach’s newlywed couple on Thursday, they witnessed this firsthand.

Zac and Cindy Edwards’ wedding already was unique.

“We planned it in a week,” Cindy Edwards said.

According to Fox 10 News, while they stood on the shore for their wedding pictures, a woman approached the happy couple.

“A lady had come up to us and said that guy is out there struggling. He can’t get back, he’s having a hard time,” the woman said.

Cindy immediately told her husband that he had to go help since he was a former life guard and member of the coast guard.

“She said ‘don’t worry about your pants, just go.’ See, you’ve got to listen to your wife because otherwise, you’re in trouble,” Zac said.

With first responders saving a different life, Zac knew he had to go into the gulf to save this man.

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For a few moments, both men got stuck, but they were finally able to make it back safely after first responders arrived.

“It’s scary. You don’t wanna lose a loved one. Unfortunately, living here, we hear about it way too often. Just be mindful of those flags and knowing to be cautious,” Cindy said.

Despite this fiasco, Zac claimed that he could only think about his bride the entire time.

“It beat us up pretty hard getting in and we pulled up on the beach everybody grabs him. I got up and she’s running out in her wedding dress. I’m bleeding from the nose and trying to tell her get away because I know how important that dress was and I didn’t want to ruin that,” he said.

Now, the newlyweds know they have quite the story to tell in the future.

“It’s a story to tell. I told her. The grandkids are going to have a story to tell. It was a perfect day. Beautiful wedding,” he explained.

And Cindy claims she got the “package deal.”



“Hero and hubby in the same day,” she said.

“She’s my hero every day,” Zac said.

The couple spoke to the family of the young rescued Mississippi man. They say he is sore but doing well and was headed off to his first day of senior year.

What a blessing this couple was to this young man! Thank you for your bravery — even on your special day!

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Erin Shortall is an editorial intern for The Western Journal. She is currently finishing her Bachelor's Degree at Grove City College. She has a passion for homeless ministry in her home city of Philadelphia, PA.
Erin Shortall is an editorial intern for The Western Journal. She is currently finishing her Bachelor's Degree at Grove City College. She has a major in English, minors in both Writing and Communication Studies, and a Technical Writing concentration. She is currently working on designing and writing a book of poetry to financially support a new homeless ministry of Grove City, PA called Beloved Mercy Ministry. In her spare time, she loves to sing, play piano, exercise, traverse cities, and find the cutest coffee shops. She also has a passion for homeless ministry in her home city of Philadelphia, PA.
Birthplace
Philadelphia, PA
Honors/Awards
Scholarship of Academic Achievement and Moral Character
Education
Grove City College
Location
Grove City, PA
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Topics of Expertise
Visual Design, Document Design, Technical Communication, Literature, Computer Ethics




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