Every so often, a story comes along that gives people a reason to have at least a little faith in their fellow man. One such incident occurred over the weekend at the Anna Maria City Pier.

As reporter Tom Vaught writes in his Page 7 story in today’s Sun, a potential tragedy was averted because of the quick actions of two sheriff’s deputies and the unselfish nature of a tourist from Tennessee.

It all began when an unidentified woman apparently jumped off the pier into Tampa Bay. Pier patrons saw that the woman clearly was distraught and called the Sheriff’s Office after she refused help in getting out of the water and began floating away in the direction of Bean Point.

Two responding deputies quickly moved from the City Pier to the Rod and Reel Pier in hopes of catching the woman as she floated and/or swam past. When she again refused help, visiting boater Grant Stuart generously offered to take one of the deputies out in his boat to save the woman. Once they caught up with her, the distraught woman again declined help, saying she did not trust the deputies.

At that point, Stuart began talking to her and offered to jump into the water and help her swim to shore. She agreed, and he did. Just that quick.

And just like that, a life likely was saved. It’s something to think about for a moment. How many people would make that decision to risk their life and come to the aid of a total stranger?

We’d like to think the Island is full of people like that, but who can say?

Luckily for this woman, one generous and courageous tourist happened to be in the right place at the right time and was willing to make a difference.