Chris Castro Day in Orlando

City of Orlando's Senior Energy Advisor and Community Energy Manager, Chris Castro, is getting his own day in Orlando named appropriately Chris Castro Day on June 13th.

Castro saved a woman's life at Playalinda beach (Wiki) on May 28th of this year.

On June 13th, at the City Council meeting, Mayor Dyer will call upon CAO Byron Brooks to invite Marina Pobjecky and Chris Castro to the front of Council Chambers.  The Mayor will read a proclamation and a photo will be taken with Mayor Dyer, Chris Castro, and Marina Pobjecky. 

Below is the official proclamation:

  • WHEREAS, Chris Castro demonstrated great bravery and quick thinking in rescuing Marina Pobjecky, who was trapped in a deadly riptide on May 28, 2016; and 
  • WHEREAS, while swimming at Cape Canaveral Seashore’s Playalinda Beach, Chris saw Ms. Pobjecky struggling against a riptide and took quick action swimming out to her and keeping her afloat while both were pulled 200 feet from shore out to sea; and 
  • WHEREAS, Chris repeatedly reassured her as she was losing consciousness and worked to get her to the shoreline where Ben Burkett, another City of Orlando employee, assisted in pulling her from the water on to shore; and 
  • WHEREAS, according to paramedics called to the scene, Chris’ actions saved Ms. Pobjecky‘s life as her condition indicated she had only about 45 seconds left before she would have succumbed to drowning; and 
  • NOW, THEREFORE, I, Buddy Dyer, Mayor of the City of Orlando, hereby do proclaim May 28, 2016 as “Chris Castro Day” in the City of Orlando to recognize him for his courage and selflessness in risking his own life to save Ms. Pobjecky. 

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