Punta Gorda mom looks for stranger who saved children

A family was enjoying their holiday weekend near Boca Grande Lighthouse when the unthinkable happened. Luckily, a good Samaritan was there to save the two children and the mother wants to thank him.

“It was the scariest moment of my life,” said Kayla Bowen.

Bowen may not have been able to play in the sand with her children this Labor Day if not for the help of a kind stranger on Sunday.

“The feeling was just like numb. I felt so helpless,” Bowen said.

Two of her kids were on a jet ski with their grandfather at Gasparilla Island State Park when a strong wave came in and knocked them off. Even with life jackets on, the children were struggling to stay afloat.

“Scared I’d be planning two funerals instead of having my children with me today,” Bowen admitted.

A bystander jumped into the water to save them. “He didn’t even hesitate. I mean he had his own family here. He didn’t hesitate one bit to jump in,” Bowen said.

Now the Punta Gorda mother just wants to find the man so she can say thank you. All she knows is that his name could be Freddie.

“I owed this man everything and like everything I had. My life, everything,” Bowen said.

Bowen is convinced the man is their guardian angel.

“It’s just very important that we at least talk to him one more time,” said Bowen. “We just want to say thank you, and thank you isn’t even enough for us.”

Bowen said the family will be taking a little break from jet skis and from the beach.