‘RESCUER DIES SAVING CHILDREN FROM OCEAN TIDES
BSO Case Number: PB09-04-7826
PIO Number: 09-4-39
Date: 4/25/09
Time: 12:58 p.m. Jurisdiction: Pompano Beach
Place of Occurrence: 1200 block of South Ocean Boulevard, Pompano Beach
Description of Incident:
A Washington D.C. man walking on the beach with his girlfriend didn’t hesitate to help when he noticed two boys struggling in the ocean water. Charles Schulze went into the Atlantic and helped both boys, ages 9 and 12, get safely back to their thankful mother.
About 100 yards from shore, Schulze ran into his own trouble. He didn’t immediately swim back once the boys were safe, witnesses told Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives. He never made it back to the beach. His girlfriend, Helen Smith of Washington D.C., started yelling for help and two bystanders went into the water to pull him out. Schulze was pronounced dead at Holy Cross Hospital at 1:28 p.m.
It’s unclear exactly whether Schulze had a medical problem in the water, became exhausted during the rescue or if he got caught in a powerful rip current. Detectives are continuing to investigate. The boyfriend and girlfriend own a condominium in the area and are regular visitors to South Florida’
Full text link below…
http://sheriff.org/about_bso/admin/media/newsdetails.cfm?pk=2837&sType=M
Charlie Schulze’s autopsy revealed he died of a massive heart attack. He was very well versed in the ways of the ocean and had spent most of his life on the ocean. He knew about rip tides. He had a history of heart trouble, yet gave that not a thought when he saw the children in danger. He knew he was risking his life when he ran from the beach into the ocean. I’ve known Charlie for over 40 years, and this was just him.
It bothers me to see articles, such as yours, speculate on the fact that he didn’t know how to swim out of a riptide, thus causing his death.
Comment by Jackie Danker — May 14, 2009 @ 2:20 pm