It was a hot day at Middle Beach. Margaret Jones was there with her three-year-old grandson. She had bought him a cute little sailor suit with a sailor hat, and she watched with delight as he played with his toys at the edge of the water.

Suddenly a giant wave swept onto the shore and before Margaret could even move, the boy was swept out into the cold Atlantic. Margaret was frantic. “I know that I’ve never been religious,” she cried to the heavens. “But I implore You to save the boy! I’ll never ask anything of You again!”

The boy disappeared from view, and Margaret was beside herself. He went under a second time, and Margaret began to wail. As he went under for the third time, she screamed mightily, appealing to God to save the boy’s life.

Her final plea was answered, as the sea suddenly threw the child onto the shore. He was badly shaken but clearly alive.

Margaret picked him up and put him down gently on a blanket, far from the water. After looking him over, she turned her face towards the heavens, and complained loudly, “He had a hat!”