By admin 
YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — What began as a typical family outing at Martinez Lake quickly transformed into a terrifying struggle for survival after a mother and two young girls were swept away by a powerful undercurrent.
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Now, following a dramatic rescue by two alert boaters, the family is sharing their story to advocate for water safety across the community.
A sudden turn of events
Bailey Ray was enjoying a day at the lake with her husband, stepson, 10-year-old daughter Wren and Wren’s best friend Rebecca. But the peaceful afternoon was shattered when Ray noticed the girls walking down a nearby sandbar.
“As they were walking down, I started following them,” Ray recalled. “As I was getting closer to the end of it, I could tell that the current was picking up.”
Within moments, both young girls were swept off their feet, struggling against the strong current pulling them deeper into the water. Ray instinctively jumped in to rescue them, but she too was quickly overpowered by the swift-moving water.
All three found themselves desperately gasping for air as they were dragged further into the lake. At one point, their situation grew even more perilous when a passing boat nearly ran them over.
“I felt a little scared, I’m not going to lie,” Wren Ray said.
“I was so scared that they would have run over us,” Bailey Ray added. “We could have been stuck in a propeller or something.”
Rescued in the nick of time
Just as their strength was failing, two men on a nearby boat spotted the active struggle. The boaters, identified as KC and Scott, quickly navigated toward the group and pulled all three to safety.
“KC and Scott were on their boat already heading towards me,” Bailey Ray said. “They saw me and I think they just needed that confirmation that it was OK to come get me.”
Looking back on the terrifying ordeal, both Ray and her daughter admit they were in complete shock. Today, they are deeply grateful to the two men who sprang into action.
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“I would say thank you for looking for us, and thank you for helping us,” Wren said.
A new mission: The W.A.R. Project
The near-death experience has ignited a new passion for advocacy within the Ray family. Bailey Ray has established a new foundation, while her daughter Wren and friend Rebecca have launched The W.A.R. Project—an initiative focused on teaching water safety in Yuma-area schools.
“The fact that you saved my life, it just gives me more growth in saving other people’s lives,” Bailey Ray said. “So that is why I’ve started my foundation and this project.”
Promoting water safety resources
Local businesses are also highlighting the critical importance of safety gear. Leslie McDaniel, a bartender at the popular Rio Loco Grill near the lake, noted that a public life jacket stand was installed in the area just two months ago to help prevent drownings.
“It has helped people,” McDaniel said. “Some people come out and they don’t have them on their boats, but now you have a place to borrow one.”
Water safety experts continue to urge all swimmers to wear life jackets and remain highly vigilant of their surroundings whenever they are in or near the water.
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