- March 25, 2026
BUNNELL, Fla. — While vacationing in Puerto Rico, Mark Dyberg, a volunteer at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office with Seniors vs. Crime, heroically saved a woman from drowning.
On March 18, Dyberg was vacationing with his wife in the Condado Beach area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. That evening, while reading at the hotel pool, he heard cries for help coming from a jetty in the ocean and learned that three people were in distress in the water: two women and one man who had jumped in to attempt to rescue them. Dyberg alerted a hotel employee to call authorities, then grabbed water rescue equipment from the pool and went to render aid.
Before Dyberg arrived at the jetty, one of the women had already been pulled to shore. One of the individuals still in the water, the man, was no longer calling out for help, while the other woman could barely be heard. Dyberg headed into the water with two lifebuoys in the direction of the voice he could still hear. He swam 150 yards through swells of up to 6 feet and, despite the darkness, located the woman. He then brought her near the shore until they were close enough to be pulled from the water by authorities with the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau.
Sadly, the other man who had attempted to rescue the women was swept away by a wave and currents. After a multi-agency search, he was found deceased the next day, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
“This rescue is a testament to Mark’s selflessness, courage, and resourcefulness. Even further, his decision to run toward danger demonstrates the character of everyone we have working and volunteering at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, as they are all willing to help our citizens and anyone in need,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our thoughts are with the family of the other man who tried to help and lost his life during this tragic situation.”
The Seniors vs. Crime Project is a partnership with the Florida Attorney General and law enforcement, with the goal to reduce the victimization of senior citizens who are targeted because of their age. Seniors vs. Crime partners closely work with law enforcement throughout the state, as most project offices are co-located in sheriff’s office or police department facilities. The Seniors vs. Crime Flagler County Project Office is located at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Operations Center in Bunnell.
Dyberg has volunteered with Seniors vs. Crime in the Flagler County Project Office since October 2023.
