Point Boro Student Honored For Rescuing 3 Men From Rip Current

POINT PLEASANT, NJ — A Point Pleasant High School student was honored by the district's Board of Education in October for rescuing three men who got caught in a rip current in September.

Kayla Smith, 16, was waiting for her mother to pick her up after a day of surfing with friends in late September when the three men got caught in the rip current, she told Portraits of the Jersey Shore.

Smith was able to use her surfboard to help the three men get safely back to shore as she recounted the experience.

"My mind was blank the whole time except to keep paddling," she said, noting that she told the men they had to kick to help get them all to shore. "No matter what, I have to keep paddling."

The rescue drew widespread attention, and the Point Pleasant school board presented her with an Exemplary Community Service award at its October meeting.

The report of her heroism was picked up by an array of news outlets, she told Portraits of the Jersey Shore in a Nov. 4 follow-up post.

"I was a bit overwhelmed because I was not expecting all of that attention," she said. "I did not think that many people were going to care."

Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Point Pleasant Patch on Facebook.