Fernandina Beach Police Department
Press Release
June 1, 2015 3:15 p.m.
The Fernandina Beach Police Department, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office (Marine Unit) and Fernandina Beach Ocean Rescue Lifeguards continued to search throughout the weekend for Steve Shaw of Valdosta, GA. The continued search has been suspended.
Steve T. Shaw was visiting Fernandina Beach with family and friends. They arrived at Beach Access #13 just forty-five minutes before the incident took place. Mr. Shaw’s niece and nephew were walking in knee deep water with two other friends when they all were knocked from their feet by a large wave. Two of the four were able to get to safety while Mr. Shaw’s niece and nephew remained in the water calling for help.
Mr. Shaw entered the water after seeing that his family members were being swept out from the shore and needed help. He was seen going into the water by his family and other witnesses on the beach. He was overwhelmed by the surf and was seen going underneath the water and did not resurface.
Fernandina Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguards from Main Beach & Sadler Road responded to the area. Two lifeguards entered the water and saved the two family members of Mr. Shaw. They were taken to the Nassau-Baptist Emergency Room and later released without any injuries.
We will continue to the search the waterfront in hopes that Mr. Shaw’s body will be recovered.
Steve Shaw was identified as the victim of a drowning that occurred in the waters off of Fernandina’s South Fletcher Avenue. Captain David Bishop released the name and photo of Shaw just before noon today.
Editor’s Note: Deputy Fire Chief Murallo provided Captain David Bishop with names of Ocean Rescue personnel involved in the incident. According to Murallo, “Ryan Savage was the first on scene . . . . and Nathan Cutajar assisted Ryan with the rescue.”
Lifeguards Ryan Savage and Nathan Cutajar saved the two family members. Well Done!
The eyewitness accounts seem to point out that Mr Shaw had already disappeared under the waves by then and there was nothing the lifeguards could do. But they still searched in the water, braving the high waves and strong undertow, for over thirty more minutes looking for him.
To the wife and family members of steve I’m Demetrius Dukes a very best friend of him would like to say from the bottom of my heart and soul that I’m very sorry for the lost of him,he was one of my main fishing buddies out of three others I received a unknown call today at work calls I don’t normally pick up but for some reason I did and was told the unexpected news of all day that my friend was gone my fishing buddy was lost under water at a beach I couldn’t believe what I was hearing so I hung up my phone until I got off work and looked it up on the news and there I seen my fishing buddy picture Mr. Steve posted.I even tried to call his phone and there was no answer.
Is there a way to send thanks to the Lifeguards and also sympathy to the family of such a hero?
My gratitude to the life guards, thank you so very much. My prayers are with this family and all people in this incident. I am so sadden by this story.
God bless my friend Steven’s soul , i have no doubt in my mind that my friends soul rest in God’s heaven ,,, Steve you are very well missed ,, sleep in heaven my friend