Ten-year-old Hayley Whiting and her family were swimming jsut off shore enjoying the last day of their vacation.

ABC 7 (KABC-TV) in Los Angeles reports Hayley was playing in the waves as kids do when her mom, being cautious asked her to move a bit closer to shore. But before she could do that Hayley got caught in a rip current and was quickly being pulled farther away from the shore.

Hayley's mother Samantha, upon seeing what was happening tried swimming out to save her daughter.

"I was thinking this is not happening. There's no way I'm being pulled out. I was terrified," Whitling said.

Nearby, Kevin Cozzi and his fiancée heard the screaming from down the beach.

Without hesitation, Cozzi jumped into action.

"I've been swimming since I was three years old competitively, so I felt like I could get to them. I ran out there and as soon as I got to the mom, I knew she was struggling," Cozzi said.

Cozzi was able to reach the 10-year-old and bring her closer to shore where a lifeguard met them.

In the months that followed Hayley's mom recalled that she only knew Cozzi's first name. However, she never stopped looking for the young man that saved her daughter.

Samantha posted about the rescue in a Facebook group, and within hours they miraculously reconnected.

Samantha is now working to give Cozzi and his fiancé the dream wedding they had to cancel because of COVID-19.

Samantha and Haylee are grateful for Cozzi and his wife-to-be and plan to thank them again when they attend their wedding next fall.

Here is a link to the GoFundMe account set up to help Cozzi.

 

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