Daytona Beach, FL - A young waitress injures herself after she jumps off the Daytona Beach Pier to save a young boy caught in the surf.
According to Volusia County Beach Safety's Captain Tammy Malphurs, 19-year-old Hanna Pignato, a waitress on the rooftop of Joe's Crab Shack, was working Saturday night (April 13th), when she saw a young boy trapped in the rough surf by the pier.
Pignato then ran downstairs and gave an employee her belongings before jumping into the surf to save the boy.
However, Pignato jumped into the water during low tide. She ended up hitting the ocean floor which injured her back and broke her foot.
Malphurs says that Beach Safety responded to the scene and helped bystanders get the boy out of the water.
"He was transported to the hospital as a precaution and is expected to be ok," said Malphurs.
Then, a few minutes later, Beach Safety got another report saying that there was a young woman lying by the water's edge, saying that she had been injured when she jumped into the water to save the boy.
Which, according to Malphurs, was dangerous.
"Her heart was in the right place, she has the heart of a lifeguard that's for sure," said Malphurs. "We definitely discourage anyone from entering the ocean (for a rescue) if they're not a trained lifeguard."
Malphurs said that in situations like that, it's better to flag down a nearby lifeguard or call 911.
Pignato didn't receive any life threatening injuries.
That weekend was also busy for Beach Safety. Captain Malphurs said that on Saturday (April 13th) alone VCBS rescued 71 people from the water.
