As a pre-teen who frequently went to the beach alone to bodysurf, I was once rescued from a riptide by an alert lifeguard. I was in a group of strangers who we

As a pre-teen who frequently went to the beach alone to bodysurf, I was once rescued from a riptide by an alert lifeguard. I was in a group of strangers who were all taller than me. The waves were pounding me relentlessly and I was in distress, but the group was oblivious. Fortunately the lifeguard was paying attention and came to my aid.