Man Swims 5 Hours To Save Family Who Clung To Boat

Photo Credit: WBOCA family of four clung to a capsized boat in the Tangier Sound, hanging on for their lives, as 46-year-old John Riggs, of Salisbury, swam five hours against strong waves in the middle of a storm for help.

“It wasn’t an option, it just had to be done because they had been out there all night,” said Riggs. He told WBOC, he swam because the lives of his father, sister and young niece and nephew depended on it.

“Just not knowing what’s going on with them while I was gone,” said Riggs. He added, “It was getting nasty and blowing harder. And not knowing if we [rescue crews and Riggs] would be able to find them when we got back out there.”

So he did what instinct told him to do, and didn’t look back.

“It’s an amazing story,” said Deal Island Fire Chief Donald Ford. “The man’s a hero. He swam from Haines Point and ended up, when he came to shore, at Hall Point.”