- July 24, 2025
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A Sarasota County beach lifeguard who rescued seven people from a rip current at Lido Beach in 2024 received the National Medal of Valor recently from the United States Lifesaving Association and was named Lifeguard of the Year by the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association.
Mariano Martinez received both awards on May 17. He was among three lifeguards nationally to be awarded the Medal of Honor for 2024 and the only one outside of California.
Beach patrol chiefs across the state vote on the Lifeguard of the Year award.
“I have 15 years of experience in Argentina on the beach, and six here, and this rescue was the rescue for me for sure, for sure,’’ Martinez said.
In a video recorded in 2024, Martinez said he was off duty and relaxing on the beach after his June 22, 2024 shift on Lido Beach, when he said he saw a water-rescue alert come across the PulsePoint phone app, an app that displays fire-rescue calls.
The native Argentinian said he immediately headed toward the address in the 400 block of Benjamin Franklin Drive.
“I’m always ready to respond,’’ he said. “I run there, I jump in the water with my rescue tube.’’
He said the first victim he encountered was underwater and drowning. He put her in his flotation tube and headed farther offshore, finding a mother and daughter in a similar state. Speaking Spanish, to try calming them down, he said he held both above water and brought them to shore. Several others were on body boards and were floating alright. He then returned for the woman on his flotation tube and brought her to safety. He then brought the others to shore as well.
“Mariano is an outstanding member of our community who exemplifies selfless service and consistently shows his passion, going above and beyond for our residents and visitors,” said Sarasota County Fire Department Lifeguard Operations Group Chief Rick Hinkson. “We are proud to have him as a member of our team and grateful to the USLA and Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association for recognizing him and his efforts.”
In an emotional recitation of the events, Martinez said he was just happy he was on the scene and could help.
“I can’t explain the feeling because if I ... you can see my leak, if I can start to explain,’’ he said with his eyes welling up with tears. “You cannot explain when you are watching a person, and her or his life is in your hand. And when you have not one, you have seven lives ... well, everything was OK.’’