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Florida is the freakshow of America. But that’s why we love it.

Nowhere else could you imagine seeing a headline like the one above. In no other state would a confused deer ramble its way onto the beach, enter the ocean, swim in shark-infested waters, and prompt lifeguards to rush to its rescue. And yet, it's all true.

It’s perhaps the most Florida thing ever. (Aside from a shark headbutting a surfer.)

“We have a job to do,” said Flagler Beach lifeguard Chase Hunter, who assisted in saving the deer, and is the proud owner of an epic mustache. “We save lives. Whether it’s a human life, or in this case, a deer.”

When the deer entered the water at Flagler, Hunter grabbed the lifeguard paddleboard, stroked out to the distressed doe, lugged it onto the board, then paddled it back to shore. Somehow, the deer remained calm the entire time – nobody got a hoof to the face.

It was no easy task, either. Apparently, there was a torrential downpour during the rescue, and the ocean conditions were a little choppy, making it extra tricky.

And…since it’s Florida, there were sharks, too.

“There was also two sharks swimming out there the whole time,” said Hunter.

In the end, the deer was rescued, released back into the wild, and everyone walked away safe.

“We’re extremely proud of them for, not only taking concern for life safety for the public, but also for the environment,” said Chief Stephen Cox, who, in his 15 years working the beaches had never seen anything like this.

Hunter added: “It was a good rescue, a unique one.”

For saving a deer, somebody’s gotta buy these heroes a beer. (Sorry, had to do it.)

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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