North Carolina boy rescues sister.(THE GOODNESS OF AMERICA)(Jack Whipkey)

Over the 4th of July weekend, a family from Turkey, North Carolina, decided to go to nearby Currie Beach, on the Atlantic. Seven-year-old Abigail Whipkey was playing in knee-deep water, careful to follow instructions not to go too far out into the rough surf. Despite her caution, though, Abigail was suddenly pulled out to sea by a strong rip current. People on the shore could see the girl fighting for her life amid the rolling waves.

One of those watching from the shore was Abigail's mother, Lisa Cain. "I just couldn't believe it was happening," said Cain, in an interview with the Sampson (County, North Carolina) Independent: "I was just shocked--it was like everything was in slow motion. I was sitting with my friend and she looked over and was going to say everything was fine, but she didn't even get the words out of her mouth and we both saw very quickly that everything wasn't fine."

Ms. Cain could see her daughter being tossed about on the waves, sometimes submerged, sometimes above the waves, but could do nothing. As she told the Independent:

 
   It is a feeling of helplessness that I 
   cannot explain to you. I was running 
   out across the water and it was like 
   two hands just shoving me back.... 
   I could see her face just under the 
   water, then out, then under again. 
   Every time she looked up, she saw 
   me and was looking ...