By Steven Alford
The Corpus Christi Caller-Times
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A longtime Corpus Christi police officer is being hailed as a hero after rescuing a stranded kayaker Tuesday off Mustang Island.
Senior Officer John Schultz responded to a distress call about 11:20 a.m. near beach marker 99 off Access Road 2, police reported.
A 20-year-old Kyle man had toppled out of his kayak and was clinging to the side about 1,200 feet from shore.
Emergency responders said the man began to panic as he struggled in the waves.
As fire officials prepared to launch a boat, Schultz grabbed a life jacket from his car and waded into the surf, said Lt. Carlos Rios Jr., of the Corpus Christi Police Department.
“He went out there and just had it under control,” Rios said. “He did good.”
The 40-year veteran has water experience after serving as a Navy rescue swimmer during the Vietnam War.
In rescue situations like Tuesday’s, you don’t think - you act, Schultz said. The officer swam past three sandbars to reach the man, meeting him in about 30 feet of water.
“I tried to break the ice as I got close to him,” Schultz said. “I just said, ‘Pretty nice day for a swim,’ and he laughed.”
Schultz helped the man back into the kayak and swam alongside while the man paddled back to shore.
The man was checked by medics at the scene and released.
Rios said he plans to recommend Schultz for the Police Department’s lifesaving award.
Schultz said he was just doing his job.
“It’s just a policeman’s day at work,” he said. “There’s always something different.”
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