The "Courage Makes Them Heroes" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at one of my favorite websites, Travel Talk Online.  The travel website offers readers a chance to read and contribute to forums associated with Africa, Cayman Islands, Cancun, Isla Mujeres, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, St. Martin/Sint Maarten and even a Charter Boat forum to name a few of the travel options.  

Minivan submerged in the Marigot Bay near the outdoor market.

I opened the St. Martin forum and began reading about three local boys who became instant heroes for helping save the lives of those who were riding in a minivan that, for some unknown reason, crashed into the ocean in Marigot Bay, which is located on the French side of the island.  The minivan was loaded with passengers from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Freedom of the Seas.  They were evidently headed to visit the outdoor market in Marigot, the capital of the French side of the island, when for some reason the minivan veered into the nearby bay.  

The three young heroes who saved many
a life when they dove into the water to
bring the passengers to shore.

Half the van went underwater and when the three boys saw what had happened, jumped into action and dove into the water with disregard for their own lives, opened the rear door of the van and helped usher passenger after passenger from the van onto the rocks above.  They managed to get all from the minivan with just a few injuries.  If it hadn't been for these three heroes, some may have drowned in the half submerged minivan.  When medical personnel arrived, they too commented on the three boys being responsible for their being no deaths.  At times, many visitors complain about the local youth having no ambition or always causing trouble, but when you see the courage that these three displayed, you have a different opinion of the youth.  St. Martin official Daniel Gibbs saluted the courage of the young people who helped the passengers escape.  He said, "this heroic act saved lives, they showed 'sang-froid' and great courage.  They can be proud of their actions."  The website was filled with many comments about what these three young men did to save those that were in the minivan.  A few of the comments were:

*Nice jobs guys, God bless you. *The 3 young boys need to be rewarded.  *Thank God that they were there to help with the rescue efforts!   *This news came all the way to Denmark...Good job guys.   *Courage makes them heroes...bless them.   *Well done young men.  Too often we read or hear negative about our young people.  Quite some positive here that needs praise.   *These HEROES  may very well be the 'chirred' you ignored or chased from your business place yesterday, and tomorrow, you will not recognize them and will ignore them again.  Let that sink in.....so when you see 'lil black chirred' you may remember 'a life that was a saved'.  *At least they weren't cowards standing above ground with cellphones recording!!!!   *That's the SXM we know and love.  Good people.   *And one final comment that reflects my opinion as well...They should receive medals for their brave and courageous act.  They put their own lives on the line to save others; something a lot of adults wouldn't do.  

It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.