“It definitely brought a smile to our faces …”
The other week, Brandon Terronez and his girlfriend were walking along Florida’s Cocoa Beach Pier when the peacefulness of the day was interrupted by the sight of a life and death struggle.
Concern for the Stranded Bird
“We spotted a bird floating, and we could tell it didn’t seem like he could fly and was in trouble,” Terronez told The Dodo. “We watched him float for five minutes or so, but it was clear he had been in [the water] much longer.”
Hope Arrives
Terronez and his girlfriend were concerned, but too far away to help directly. As they looked on, however, hope arrived for the desperate bird. The surfer lifted the bird onto his board and ferried him to shore.
A Second Chance
“We were excited to see the bird get a second chance,” Terronez said. “We saw him put the bird up safely under the pier. An expert said the bird was waterlogged and would have probably died without his help. [But] after drying out and resting, the bird should be fine.”
Impact of Kindness
That kind gesture had likely saved a life. Throughout it all, the surfer appeared to be unaware that he was being watched — and that his actions that day on behalf of a little bird would reverberate far beyond the sea and sand.
Lasting Impressions
“It definitely brought a smile to our faces and was the topic of discussion the rest of the night, and for a few weeks after now as the video has gotten a lot of attention,” Terronez said. “It brightened an already beautiful day.”