Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Uses Professional Training to Save Family Members During Aruba Boating Accident

Marcelo Lorenzo, a lifeguard with Hollywood Ocean Rescue, is receiving recognition for his heroic response during a water emergency that unfolded while he was vacationing in Aruba on August 11. A speedboat towing tubes struck an anchored catamaran at high speed after the vessel made a wide turn, leaving several of Lorenzo’s relatives seriously injured and thrown into the water. With professional emergency services unavailable at the moment, Lorenzo drew upon his lifeguard training to intervene.

Lorenzo located his father trapped beneath the catamaran and assisted him to a ladder, securing his safety. He subsequently discovered his cousin unconscious and face-down in the water, checked for vital signs, and kept her buoyed until crew members aboard the catamaran could retrieve her from the ocean.

“I remember swimming over there, I was like, ‘This is scary’ and I was thinking the worst,” Lorenzo recounted. “I didn’t know if they were dead or possibly really hurt, and I just knew I had to get over there as soon as possible and go help them out.”

Hollywood Fire Rescue credited Lorenzo’s prompt action, composure, and professional expertise with preventing fatalities during the crisis. Officials noted that his response exemplifies how specialized lifeguard training and rapid decision-making prove critical when emergency responders cannot reach a scene immediately.