Honoring a hero: Avery Hatchett

What started off as a fun, family vacation to Destin quickly turned into a rescue mission when hidden currents pulled Alan Franklin and family out in the Crab Island waters.

Franklin and his family were spending their first trip to Destin exploring Crab Island. After a half a day of overcast weather, he and his wife, two sons, and sister were finally able to hit the seemingly calm shallow waters of Crab Island.

However, they were not warned of the dangerous currents that occur, even in the shallowest of waters. Tina, Franklin's sister had struggled to bring her son back to the boat, so Franklin jumped in to help them out. He quickly realized he could not make the swim and was desperate for help.

It was then that Avery Hatchett noticed the danger Franklin was in and quickly sprang into action. Hatchett, at the time, was working as a Captain for the S.E.A Chase Watersports that was docked in close proximity to where the family was swimming.

He grabbed the anchor and grabbed both Tina and her son and got them back into the boat. He promptly returned to the water and took Franklin and his niece back on the boat as well, using the life raft he had on hand to them all from the increasingly swift current.

It was Hatchett's knowledge and ability to stay calm that allowed him to rescue Franklin and his family that day. Being a local of Destin, Hatchett knew how to read and react to the currents. Hatchett has lived in Destin for 15 years and is very knowledgeable about the dangers of the area and has experienced firsthand the changing of the waters.

The timeliness that was put into rescuing the family during this time of tide helped save their lives. Franklin is "forever grateful" to have had someone as knowledgeable and heroic as Hatchett working on a boat nearby.

As for Hatchett, he doesn't consider himself to be a hero. He believes that "it is just his responsibility to help when he sees someone in need." Hatchett continues to work for S.E.A Chase Watersports educating people on the dangers of the currents in the area. It was Hatchett's ability to go above and use the skills, experience, and knowledge he had that makes him a true hero. 

Hatchett will be honored as part of the weekly Red, White and Blue Celebration at HarborWalk Village Thursday at 7 p.m. For more information, see www.theemeraldgrande.com/events.