COCOA BEACH, Florida – Eighteen Pararescuemen of the 920th Rescue Wing from Patrick Air Force Base took part in a high endurance challenge named ‘Cocoa Quest’ that consisted of a two-and-a-half mile swim in the Banana River from Merritt Island, Florida to P.A.F.B. – followed by a six-mile run from the P.A.F.B. beach named ‘Second Light’ to ‘Coconuts on the Beach’ in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
After some confusion as to where the finish line was located (video below), James Kirsch (pictured above) took first place in the event with a time of 1 hour : 47 minutes, followed by Mitchell Adams in a close second.
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| Kirsch cools off Adams with bottled water after the two completed the ‘Cocoa Quest’ |
Pararescuemen, whose motto is “That Others May Live,” provide emergency medical treatment necessary to stabilize and evacuate injured personnel while acting in an enemy evading recovery role.
At home, the 920th Rescue Wing provides security and rescue support functions for launches from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
