It’s a classic Florida headline—except even by Sunshine State standards, this one gallops into new, saltier territory. Over the weekend, lifeguards at Flagler Beach pulled off an unexpected aquatic rescue not involving swimmers, surfers, or the usual vacation casualties, but instead a soaked, struggling white-tailed deer. And yes, several local sources confirm: that’s not a typo.

Bobbing, Antlers and All, in the Atlantic

As reported by UPI, beachgoers and lifeguards first spotted the deer Sunday, battling against rough surf and driving rain. The animal spent, by witness accounts, more than an hour in the water, only occasionally resurfacing for air. Flagler Beach senior lifeguard Chase Hunter and first-year lifeguard Leo Peters were quick to enter the choppy Atlantic, bringing a rescue board. A Flagler Beach firefighter joined, ready to assist in an operation that likely wasn’t covered in standard training.

Hunter explained to WOFL-TV, as cited in UPI, that holding onto a panicked, hefty deer in turbulent water was a feat of endurance: “I was just holding on to the deer as hard as I could. It’s fighting. It’s heavy. I’m tired. Everybody’s tired. But in my mind, I was telling myself, we’re getting this deer in one way or the other.” Eventually, the exhausted, waterlogged animal was secured on the rescue board and transported to shore. Flagler Beach Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Cox, whose comments were highlighted in both UPI and ClickOrlando, confirmed Ocean Rescue led the effort with backup from his team, capturing photos of the event for posterity.

Sharks Nearby: No Pressure

Of course, Florida wouldn’t settle for just unusual—it opts for cinematic. According to CBS12, the lifeguards paddled out roughly 300 yards, dodging not just waves but also sharks cruising below the surface. Peters described a heart-stopping moment to WESH, as relayed by CBS12: “I saw two big fins come out of the water, and I thought ‘oh my god.’ I’ve never heard of a deer rescue. I’ve never heard of a deer in the ocean.” Video shared with local news shows the lifeguards hauling the animal onto the board, with sharks reportedly circling in the area.

This isn’t routine business even in Florida—Chief Cox told both UPI and ClickOrlando that in his 15 years with Fire Rescue, this was a first: no previous deer-in-ocean emergencies on record.

But How Did It Get There?

With the rescue complete, the mystery only deepened. As flagged in CBS12’s reporting and echoed in ClickOrlando’s coverage, the obvious question remains—how did the deer end up offshore to begin with? Biologist James Kroll, better known as “Dr. Deer,” posited to WESH, according to CBS12, that wildlife often panics due to loud noises or large crowds, typical around the Fourth of July. “A lot of people on the beach, the deer took to the water to get away from something, maybe even a dog, and got caught up in the current,” Kroll suggested. It’s a reasonable scenario—one part local tradition, one part wildlife misadventure.

UPI and ClickOrlando both emphasized that neither fire officials nor lifeguards could pinpoint exactly when or where the deer entered the ocean, or how long it struggled offshore. All that’s clear is that the animal was in significant distress by the time help arrived.

Return of the Prodigal Deer

Once the deer was brought ashore, Fire Rescue Chief Cox confirmed to ClickOrlando that the animal, while battered and exhausted, was able to walk. The lifeguards and firefighter released the deer a short distance from the water, allowing it to vanish back into the relative safety of the woods. UPI’s coverage affirms the same detail: the deer was returned to the wild rather than sent for extended care.

Throughout, the lifeguards were understated about their accomplishment. Hunter summed it up to WESH, per CBS12: “Yeah, a little bit it’s my job. It’s what I need to do, so I’d do it for anybody.” Presumably, he didn’t expect “anybody” to mean four legs and hooves when he clocked in that morning.

No Dull Days by the Shore

Oddities are part of the everyday ecosystem in Florida, and the “Strange Florida” beat, as supported by ClickOrlando, rarely runs dry. Still, even in a state where alligators cause traffic jams and bears audition as interior decorators, a lifeguard-led deer rescue from shark-patrolled waters sets a new high—or depth—for local weirdness.

For those curious about the daily drama faced by lifeguards, rest assured: it isn’t always sunbathers and sandcastles. Sometimes, as these reports demonstrate, the job description expands: saving swimmers, surfers, and, occasionally, confused deer. One wonders—was this simply a case of wrong place, wrong time, or will the Atlantic soon see even stranger visitors? If Florida’s history is any clue, lifeguards won’t be out of surprises anytime soon.