In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn sits down with Brad Torrens, United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer #114, for a powerful, wide-ranging conversation that spans the early days of Coast Guard aviation through the birth of the rescue swimmer program—and the personal cost that can come with a lifetime of rescue work.
Torrens takes us back to one of his earliest and most intense cases as a flight mechanic. Launching into horrific weather in the Gulf of Mexico on January 2nd to assist a sinking fishing vessel. With waves crashing over seawalls and minimal aircraft capability, the crew pushed the limits of both machine and mission. In a moment that still stands out decades later, Brad made the call to give up his own life vest to survivors in need, facing the reality of risk in its purest form.
From there, we moved to his first major rescue case in Cape May, where as the only qualified EMT on board, Brad executed a high-risk hoist onto a heavily rigged fishing vessel in near-zero visibility. With the aircraft hovering just feet above a violently pitching deck, he guided a complex litter hoist through a maze of rigging while stabilizing a severely injured patient mid-flight. That mission would earn him his first Coast Guard Commendation Medal, though at the time, like many in the community, he saw it simply as “doing the job.”
Torrens also shares what it was like to serve before the official rescue swimmer program existed, when flight mechanics were often the ones going over the side or when necessary, even lowering untrained crew members to vessels in distress. He walks through the transition period following the Marine Electric disaster, when the Coast Guard made the shift to formalize the rescue swimmer role, and what it was like to be part of that first generation of swimmers. Training hard, proving the concept, and slowly building trust with pilots who weren’t yet used to putting people in the water.
Torrens brings us inside the reality of rescue work. The unpredictable missions, split-second decisions, and the constant reliance on training. From being crushed against a vessel while searching for survivors, to guiding aircraft in zero visibility, to operating without the modern equipment crews rely on today. His stories highlight just how much the profession has evolved, and how much of it was learned the hard way.
But beyond the rescues, this episode also touches on something deeper.
Torrens speaks candidly about the long-term impact of the job, the weight that builds over time, and the importance of addressing mental health in the rescue community. He shares the loss of a fellow rescue swimmer and emphasizes the need for connection, support, and seeking help when it’s needed. Pointing to programs like Operation Restored Warrior as a resource that can truly change lives.
This episode is more than just a collection of rescue stories, it’s a look at the evolution of a career field, the mindset required to operate on the edge, and the human side of those who dedicate their lives to saving others.
From the early days of Coast Guard aviation, to life on the edge of risk, to the realities that follow after the mission ends.
Enjoy.
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