Richard Wayne “Dick” Van Dyke is best known for his groundbreaking 1960s TV sitcom, his roles in Mary Poppins, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and Bye Bye Birdie, and as star of Diagnosis Murder.
In January, he received the Screen Actors Guild’s highest honor, the Life Achievement Award. He couldn’t help but remember the day his life was almost cut short.
Dick was an avid surfer when he was young. The way he tells it, one summer day he paddled out into the Atlantic to catch some waves on his 10-foot longboard. But the ocean was too calm. Lying flat on his board, the hot sun beating down and gentle swells rocking him, Dick grew sleepy. He dozed off.
A splash startled him. He looked around. Where was the shore? The current had pulled him out to sea! Panicked, he paddled. But which way? Then, another splash. Menacing, triangular fins circled him in the water. Sharks, Dick thought. I’m dead.
He braced for the inevitable. One of the creatures popped above the water. A stubby snout, smooth gray skin, gentle eyes—not sharks. Porpoises!
They swam behind the board and pushed it forward. Dick paddled furiously, following their urging without question. When his strength flagged, the porpoises nudged him on. Finally, Dick saw the beach in the distance.
Only when he was close enough to make it on his own did his finned friends turn tail and swim out to sea. Dick reached shore exhausted, but thankful.
Now, Dick is known as a jokester. But his close brush with death? He swears he’s not kidding around.
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