An awe-inspiring display of humanity and courage unfolded on Panama City Beach when a family that swam too far out into the ocean nearly drowned.
Beach-goers -- all strangers -- banned together to form an 80-person human chain to rescue eight swimmers in distress. Beach-goer Rosalind Beckton managed to capture the sight on camera.
It all started Saturday when Roberta Ursrey noticed her sons were too far from shore and began screaming for help. Family members swam out to get them but found the current strong, leaving the group in about 15 feet of water.
That's when the public sprung to action -- people began forming a human chain, eventually reaching about 100 yards into the ocean.
The Ursrey family was rescued, although one woman suffered a heart attack, and a total of two people were transported to Bay Medical Center for treatment after the rescue.
Panama City Bach police say this is a reminder of how dangerous the Gulf can be.