He was walking on the local pier with some friends.
St. Joseph North Pier Lights in St. Joseph Michigan 707855
Several guys, slightly older than he and his friends, jumped off the pier into the water. One started going down! Others were calling out that they could not swim.
His friends did just what he knew not to do. They jumped in to try to save the others.
He did what he had been trained to do: grab a life ring and toss it to the person in the water so you can pull that person to safety from your own stable position.
Interestingly, he had just learned that in lifeguard training the previous day….
Coincidence or divine timing, call it what you will.