INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. — Marty Thomas is being praised by neighbors for using his paddleboard to rescue a number of people as Hurricane Helene's storm surge rose.

What You Need To Know

  •  Marty Thomas said he grabbed his paddleboard to head to a friend's house as storm surge rose in Indian Rocks Beach last week

  •  Once he arrived, Thomas said neighbors told him someone was trapped in their home, and he paddled to them and helped bring them to safety

  •  While the water was deep, Thomas said he's a longtime paddleboarder and wasn't scared

  • Thomas and neighbors estimate he helped about a dozen people that night

"The angel of Indian Rocks Beach," Thomas' neighbor Ann McIntosh called him Friday.

One look down First Street, where the two live, and the toll Hurricane Helene took is evident. Piles of flood damaged belongings sit in front of each home.

"You're looking at all my neighbors' stuff, everything from start to finish — grills, clothes, everything — everything, it's wasted," Thomas said. "I mean, it's completely drenched in saltwater and sewer water."

Thomas said he had to get rid of most of his belongings, too. Still in his apartment, though, are several surfboards and paddleboards.

"I grew up in the water, and I've lived on the beach my whole life," said Thomas, 51.

He told Spectrum News his family moved to Indian Rocks Beach more than 40 years ago. 

When the storm surge during Helene started to invade the neighborhood, Thomas said he grabbed a paddleboard.

"Once I seen the water was coming up to the window, I just knew it was time to go," he said.

The plan was to head to his friend's house.

"He told me, you know, 'I got five beers left. So, better bring me some beer,'" Thomas said. "So, I threw some beer in the backpack and my phone."

He said he made his way down First Street in water that was chest-high in some spots. Once he got to his friend's place, a neighbor called out to him.

"There was a lady trapped," Thomas said. "My buddy's neighbor said, 'Hey, there's a lady over there. Can you help her?' I just paddled over there."

After he got to that woman, Thomas said the calls for help kept coming, including from McIntosh.

"I've lived here 27 years. I've never flooded," she said.

But late that Thursday, the water rose fast.

"Pretty soon, my bed is floating, all my furniture is floating, the refrigerator blew over, and about 11:30, I'm up to water about my hip," McIntosh said.

She said that after he rescued her brother and sister-in-law and their two dogs, Thomas came back for her. Thomas and neighbors estimate he helped about a dozen people that night.

"They were definitely more scared," Thomas said. "I don't know if they were in imminent danger."

"Virtually saved our lives," said McIntosh. "I really believe he did."

Thomas said the entire community has come together following Helene. He praised local businesses for bringing water and more to people in affected neighborhoods starting the morning after the storm.