A Flagler County Sheriff’s Office volunteer spent his vacation saving a stranger’s life — swimming through rough ocean waters at night to pull a drowning woman to safety while another man who attempted a rescue did not survive.
What Happened
On the evening of March 18, Mark Dyberg, a volunteer with the Seniors vs. Crime program at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, was relaxing at the pool of his hotel in the Condado Beach area of San Juan, Puerto Rico, with his wife. He heard cries for help from the direction of a nearby jetty and quickly learned that three people were in distress in the ocean — two women and a man who had jumped in to try to help them.
Dyberg immediately alerted a hotel employee to call authorities, grabbed water rescue equipment from the pool, and headed to the jetty to help.
By the time he arrived, one of the women had already been pulled to shore. The man who had jumped in to help was no longer calling out. The second woman could barely be heard. Dyberg entered the water with two lifebuoys and swam approximately 150 yards through swells reaching up to six feet in the dark. Despite the difficult conditions, he located the woman, kept her afloat, and brought her toward shore until they were close enough to be pulled from the water by Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau personnel.
Tragically, the man who had attempted to rescue the two women was swept away by a wave and strong currents. Following a multi-agency search, he was found deceased the next day, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Sheriff’s Response
Sheriff Rick Staly praised Dyberg’s actions while also acknowledging the loss of the man who died trying to help. “This rescue is a testament to Mark’s selflessness, courage, and resourcefulness. Even further, his decision to run toward danger demonstrates the character of everyone we have working and volunteering at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, as they are all willing to help our citizens and anyone in need,” Staly said. “Our thoughts are with the family of the other man who tried to help and lost his life during this tragic situation.”
About Seniors vs. Crime
The Seniors vs. Crime Project is a statewide program operating in partnership with the Florida Attorney General and law enforcement agencies, with the goal of reducing the targeting and victimization of senior citizens. Most project offices are co-located within sheriff’s offices or police departments across Florida. The Flagler County Project Office is located at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Operations Center in Bunnell. Dyberg has volunteered with the program since October 2023.
