In a tribute to a brave teen who made the ultimate sacrifice, Palm Beach County has installed a new safety feature at South Inlet Park. The installation, a life-saving ring buoy station, was unveiled last Thursday to honor the memory of Aden Perry – a teenager whose courageous attempt at rescuing a driver from a lake led to his own tragic demise in 2022. According to a report by Palm Beach County's newsroom, Commissioner Marci Woodward, along with the Aden Perry Foundation and representatives from Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation, gathered for the ceremony during National Water Safety Month.
The significance of the life-saving station was punctuated by a live demonstration carried out by Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue, who showed the practical use of the new equipment in a rescue simulation. Sarah Perry, Aden's mother and the force behind the Aden Perry Foundation, expressed to those in attendance a poignant message, “It wasn't until losing my son that I realized there was nothing available in such an emergency to save a life without a Good Samaritan putting their own life in jeopardy. I knew Aden would want me to do something about that. In a water emergency, even the best swimmer can be drowned by somebody who can't swim. So by having one of our hero life rings available, anybody can use them, from the youngest child to Grandma or Grandpa can use it to save a life without putting their life in jeopardy," as obtained by Palm Beach County's newsroom.
Following the ring buoy station's launch at South Inlet Park, similar installations can be found at Ocean Inlet Park, Phil Foster Park, and Jupiter Beach Park, marking a concerted effort to improve water safety across the county, with the Aden Perry Foundation having donated nearly 400 life rings to Florida communities since February 2023. Jennifer Cirillo, PBC Parks Director, acknowledged the impact of the donations, "We're very happy to be here with you today to unveil the Aden Perry Foundation Life Ring Buoy. We're just so grateful for this extra layer of safety measures in our park system," as referenced from the Palm Beach County's newsroom.
Throughout these efforts, the fundamental safety advice from Ocean Rescue remains clear "Throw, Don't Go," serving as a guideline to prevent unnecessary risk while assisting those in peril in the water, and during the demonstration, they showcased how critical it is to use the life rings in emergencies making it a fine example on proper emergency response while also keeping rescuers safe.
