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A Falls Church man releasing his daughter’s ashes on the Outer Banks of North Carolina last week is alive today because Adam Zboyovski happened to be nearby.
On Friday, about 40 family members gathered on the oceanfront, with many going into rough surf stirred up by distant Tropical Storm Ana to release a biodegradable urn containing Kane’s ashes.
“All of the sudden it seemed to get super rough really fast,” Smith said. The family realized Kane was in trouble and called 911. They also knew if they could find a surfboard, they might be able to go out and get him.
That’s when Zboyovski, who works for a beach rental service, was driving by picking up chairs. The family approached him and asked if he had a surfboard. Zboyovski, who said he’s “been known to catch a few waves,” naturally had one nearby and rushed to get it.
“He was able to grab the surfboard and got to him in time,” Smith said. “Honestly if he hadn’t gotten there when he did, I don’t think my dad would have made it.”
Zboyovski’s friends will tell you he’s rescued quite a few people from the rip currents and rough surf along the Outer Banks.
“I just happen to always have a board close by,” he said. But this one was different.
“This one was tough because the ocean conditions were really bad and I couldn’t read the ocean like on an average day. Also, the board had no wax at all on it so I was slipping off just paddling out,” Zboyovski said.
After Dennis Kane was released from the hospital Saturday evening, Zboyovski came by the family’s rental house “so we could all thank him,” Smith said.
