Man, this is a story that you absolutely love to see.
A former University of South Carolina quarterback, and current high school football coach in Sylacauga, Alabama, Chris Smelley, went out fishing in his kayak Thursday morning at around 8:30 AM off of Grayton Beach in Florida and was carried out to sea shortly afterward.
Here's how Smelley tells the story:
"I was fishing near shore, and the wind started to whip up a bit," Chris told me.
"I turned to paddle back to where I started and the wind caught me- I knew I was in trouble," added Chris.
"I tried 3 times with all my might to paddle back to where I was, but I was still moving backward, deeper into the ocean. I was reminded right then of the power of the ocean."
It had been a couple of hours and Chris knew his family would be starting to worry about him. He saw a lifeguard on a waverunner and tried to paddle closer to it, but didn't have success flagging him down.
Unknown to him, only 3 hours after he had been carried out to sea, local police, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the US Coast Guard were already mobilizing to find him.
But 12 hours later, he was nowhere to be found.
"Twice I saw rescue choppers fly near me - I waved frantically and they didn't see me - I thought of those movies where someone is lost and they are never found. I started to worry more. I then hung on at least twice as the waves nearly capsized me."
It was approaching 6 pm, and Chris was floating in his kayak 2 miles off shore, praying and hoping.
Then, they spotted him.
Guess what he was doing when he was found?
"I knew I needed some nourishment because I was guessing I would be in the ocean overnight," said Chris.
"I caught a Remora - one of those small fish you see that attach themselves to sharks and stingrays," he added.
"I got it onto the kayak and started to open it up - I needed to eat," said Chris.
"Just then I saw the plane and the chopper above me. I never threw a fish back in the ocean quicker."
The guy was making the most of a bad situation. Chris was out there casting a line, still trying to reel in fish while 2 miles out from land!!
😂
After being spotted by the Coast Guard, one of Chris's friends in the search party used his boat to get Chris back to shore.
"The Coast Guard people and my friends helped get me on the boat," Chris told me.
"We went back to shore and met my family at Harbor Docks Restaurant, which is owned by Eddie," Chris added.
"There were a a lot of hugs and kisses as my family was there to greet me."
The best.
P.S. Now check out our latest video 👇
