re: Baby floats out to sea as beach-goers watch in horror

The ocean is a motherfricker. One year at Spring Break some girls were tossing a beach ball around and the wind caught it and blew it out into the surf. Three fourths drunk me, who was young stupid and an above average swimmer, dove right in to go save it for them. I swam hard out and grabbed it only to turn around and realize the tide and wind were against me. I tried to get back for about ten minutes before I realized I couldn't get back. It was a damn weird feeling to hang onto a beach ball and just get further and further out. Eventually a life guard on a jet ski rode out and dragged me back in. fricker made me leave the beach ball out there.

Long story short, while letting the kid into the water alone was unforgivable, I can see how it can be impossible to get to someone caught in the tide.