Riggs Was Ready And Able
John Riggs knew what he had to do. Stranded 2 miles from shore near Deal Island on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Riggs had to swim to safety.
It was most certainly a life-and-death situation for not only himself, but also for this 70-year-old father, sister, 9-year-old niece, and 3-year-old nephew.
His family members, buoyed by their life jackets and hanging on to their capsized fishing boat, waited through the night on hope that Riggs would come through. And that he did after 5 hours of struggling in rough water and tidal flows when he stumbled onto the Maryland shore. “I just need to save my family,” he reportedly told the first person he came in contact with. A rescue operation from the U.S. Coast Guard and the local Fire Department was immediately dispatched. Soon, everyone was saved without harm.
Truly a heroic effort. Open water swimmers know the feeling well when they look up and the turn buoys never seem to get closer. Swim and swim and swim, and the buoys seem to stay there. Riggs undoubtedly swam towards the lights on shore. Imagine how he felt as he was swimming at night, stroking for 5 hours towards the coastal illumination?
For more information, visit here.
Copyright © 2013 by Open Water Swimming 
It was most certainly a life-and-death situation for not only himself, but also for this 70-year-old father, sister, 9-year-old niece, and 3-year-old nephew.
His family members, buoyed by their life jackets and hanging on to their capsized fishing boat, waited through the night on hope that Riggs would come through. And that he did after 5 hours of struggling in rough water and tidal flows when he stumbled onto the Maryland shore. “I just need to save my family,” he reportedly told the first person he came in contact with. A rescue operation from the U.S. Coast Guard and the local Fire Department was immediately dispatched. Soon, everyone was saved without harm.
Truly a heroic effort. Open water swimmers know the feeling well when they look up and the turn buoys never seem to get closer. Swim and swim and swim, and the buoys seem to stay there. Riggs undoubtedly swam towards the lights on shore. Imagine how he felt as he was swimming at night, stroking for 5 hours towards the coastal illumination?
For more information, visit here.
Copyright © 2013 by Open Water Swimming
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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