Antonio Burns : 1 Of The Kure Beach Heroes

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Wilmington StarNews ( Link ) 


Hello.. My name is Antonio Burns .. 27 Years & Father Of 2 .. Raised in Winston Salem,NC .. 

4/18/21 I was visiting Kure Beach with a friend on Sunday evening when i saw two children in distress .Myself and a lady by the name of Jessica Lea Embry were the only two of the beach-goers who entered the water to save the children. We both became distressed during the rescue. By the time first responders arrived at the scene to help everyone ashore, I was roughly 70 yards from shore and Embry was about 30, estimated by Kure Beach Fire Chief Ed Kennedy. Embry and myself were pulled from the water by responding members of the Kure Beach police and fire departments. The rescuers tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate Embry, who was pronounced dead at the scene. I was semi-conscious and having difficulty breathing when i was pulled from the water. 2 days later, I woke up in New Hanover Regional Medical Center. I’d been in a coma and on a ventilator. Doctors assigned me a liquid diet on the third day, then ordered me normal food on the fourth and two lung X-rays to ensure all the water was out before i was discharged. 

Before leaving the hospital, I got my bill.

“At first I thought it read $2,100. I was like, ‘OK,’”  I remember thinking to myself 

Then i realized it was $21,000. And at the same time that they gave me my hospital bill they also informed me that my health insurance had expired.

Im created this fundraiser in hopes that I can get some help to pay my hospital bill + get treated for my PTSD, Depression & Survivors guilt.  
I haven't been getting more than 4 hours of sleep if I get any sleep at all. It be so hard to get sleep cause when I close my eyes it feels like I'm still under water,I wake up in cold sweats from nightmares about what happened at Kure Beach.  On and off I have flash backs & I'll start to lose my breath & thought-out the day and night I can hear the screams of the girls and the screams it my head get louder and louder in my head. I never knew ptsd and survivors guilt was this bad. More than anything, I carry the weight of guilt. I was looking forward to introducing myself to Embry and celebrating the victory of returning the girls safe.. Now, I  blames myself for not performing as a better-than-average swimmer and not educating myself to have knowledge about rip currents. 

 I just hope whom-ever reading this finds it somewhere in your heart & soul to bless me with some help. I truly need it. Whatever you can spare is greatly appreciated and I mean that from my heart & soul. please keep me my family, the two little girls, they family & Ms.Embry and her family in your prayers please & thank you. God Bless You All