Master sgt. drowns rescuing children at beach

[thedrifter]

Master sgt. drowns rescuing children at beach
By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Monday May 7, 2007 19:32:21 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — A Marine based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. drowned in the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday while saving two children.

Master Sgt. Michael Wert, an intelligence specialist with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, was with his family at Atlantic Beach when they noticed two boys in distress, according to an air station press release.

Wert went to help the boys while his wife, Debbie, called 911, she said in a statement.

Shortly after Michael Wert went in the ocean, his daughter Katrina, followed with a boogie board to help. In the meantime, Debbie Wert headed went to retrieve another board to help. By the time she returned, a rescue team was on the scene, according to the release.

“[Katrina] managed to help the boys onto the board, but didn’t see her dad with them,” Debbie Wert said in a statement. “The one little boy told her he had to let them go and had died. We realized at that point we were only seeing three heads on the board and that Mike was missing.”

The rescue team found the master sergeant, but was unable to revive him, according to the release.

Debbie Wert described people on the beach that day – strangers who prayed with the family and took care of the couple’s three children, bringing them towels and comforting them as efforts were made to revive Michael Wert.

The air station press release states that Michael Wert, “was a credit to the Marine Corps, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Cherry Point. He was well liked in his unit and was known for his willingness to help anyone. He will be sorely missed.”

A memorial service will be at the air station at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

May 8, 2007 - 12:00AM
Marine dies saving lives of two boys

JANNETTE PIPPIN
DAILY NEWS STAFF
ATLANTIC BEACH - A Cherry Point Marine who died Saturday at Atlantic Beach is credited with saving the lives of two boys he swam into the ocean to help.

Master Sgt. Michael Wert and his family were visiting Fort Macon State Park when he saw the two children in trouble and swam out to them, said Atlantic Beach Fire Department Chief Adam Snyder.

"If it hadn't of been for him and his daughter, the two kids could have drowned," Snyder said.

Wert was an intelligence specialist with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2. Cherry Point will host a memorial service for Wert at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

"Michael Wert was a credit to the Marine Corps, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Cherry Point," Cherry Point officials said in a news release. "He was well liked in his unit, and was known for his willingness to help anyone. He will be sorely missed."

During the Saturday afternoon rescue efforts, Wert was able to get to the boys to assist them but apparently got caught in a rip current that carried him approximately 200 yards out from shore, Snyder said.

Wert's daughter, Katrina, who took a boogie board out to help her father, was able to get the boys onto the board and safely to shore but, according to the family's account of what happened, she didn't see her dad with them.

The rip current carried Wert so far out that the fire department's rescue team had to rely on someone from shore to help direct them to his location, Snyder said.

When the rescue personnel found him, Wert was floating in the water and unconscious, the fire department said.

Snyder said it took the team of swimmers 15 to 20 minutes to get back to shore because of the long distance, and they tried to revive him with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while bringing him in.

On shore, they attempted to revive him with a defibrillator and medication but were not successful.

Wert is survived by his wife, Debbie, and three children.

In a statement that accompanied the Cherry Point news release, Debbie Wert remembered her husband's love for serving his country, his family and a good day of fishing.

She also expressed her gratitude to those who were with them on the beach and have supported the family in the days since.

"There were so many on the beach that we are very grateful for and we would like to extend our gratitude to the men and women who helped," she said in her statement.

"We had strangers praying with us and women who took care of the children and got them towels and comforted them while we waited for them to bring their dad back to life; all the Marines, friends and families that have stepped in and helped with meals, showing their support and kindness in any way they can. God bless all of you and as Mike loved to say - Semper Fi."

Contact staff writer Jannette Pippin at jpippin@freedomenc.com or (252) 808-2275.

Ellie