The waves on this particular beach are behaving erratically. I’m unaware of that. How was I to know? I had only been living in Portugal for 12 months.
So here we are walking on a beach with the Atlantic tide gently rolling onto the sand, my partner and young son in front, with me close behind holding our 9-month-old in my arms.
Jumping onto a 2-metre-high rock a short distance into the surf my son is shouting with joy and happiness when I see the large wave, (very large, huge!) rushing towards him. My partner sees it too. Rushing powerfully towards my son we see the wave hit and he disappears below the water. And seconds later my partner too is hit by the wave and submerged.
My mind and body are behaving calmly and clearly.
I am running away from the sea leaving my son and wife still submerged. Am I behaving like a madman? Running in the opposite direction? Why?
100 metres up the beach I place my newborn on the sand and am running back to the sea. He is crying but I need to ignore that. He is safe for now.
I recall where the rock is located and where the wave hit. I plunge both arms under the water at the point where my son disappeared from view. Nothing.
I wade into deeper water. The sand is churning in the water. Visibility is zero. I am reaching out with both arms. I feel him. I pull him to the surface. A bloodied face, shocked and confused.
My wife is emerging using her strength to push up after been thrown violently onto the hard compacted sand below the waves.
They are both struggling to the shore holding each other as I once more ram unning up the beach and collecting my newborn into my arms.
We gather together in a family huddle, a mixture of relief and joy, tears of happiness and release.
Afterwards I am thinking that the ability to think clearly, run, wade through strong tidal movement, plunge into ice-cold water ( the Atlantic is extremely cold ) is due to my fitness levels. My daily attention to swimming, walking, running, lifting weights, stretching, and cycling all came together in the moment to create the optimum chance of saving a life in unexpected circumstances.
When you are next thinking “Why am I exercising today?” turn that thought around. Remember that you are staying at your optimum level so that not only can you enjoy life to the full for the whole of the rest of your life but also so that you can spring into action whatever the situation, and whenever it may arise.
