EDITORIAL:These surfers are no Spicolis

You know the stereotype. Jeff Spicoli. “All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine.”

But we know better. Several members of the Edison High School surf team dashed that stereotype with a daring rescue during spring break.

Three students and two parents saved eight people from drowning in a riptide that carried them out to sea. The heroes are students Ian Fewell, Rob McCarty and Chad Masri, and parents Chris Fewell (Ian’s father) and Keith Devine.

A few stragglers from the surf team were enjoying the last moments of their weeklong trip to Mexico on Good Friday, April 6, when they noticed the eight who had drifted too far out and were struggling. Most of the team’s surfers were already on their way home, so the five rescuers had to make do with a little less backup than usual.

Ian recalled how he swam out 50 feet on his board and noticed one of those in trouble was pregnant and could not swim.

“I had to get her out of the water and on my board. By holding the nose of my surfboard I just swam with one arm and kicked,” Ian said.

The rescue got even trickier when the surfers realized the group that had drifted too far out to sea could not speak English. Still, they managed to keep everyone calm.

“These are great kids,” team coach Zorn Forgiarini said.

We couldn’t have said it better.