If you are a baseball fan, you might have seen the viral video of a 7-year-old catcher who was caught in a dust devil during a youth baseball game in Florida. The boy, Bauer Zoya, was playing for the Fort Caroline Athletic Association’s 8U All Star team on Mother’s Day when a sudden whirlwind of dust and debris formed at home plate. The dust devil looked like a mini tornado and had wind speeds of up to 60 mph.
Luckily, a quick-thinking teen umpire named Aidan Wiles came to his rescue. Wiles, 17, was working as an umpire for the game and saw Bauer struggling to escape the dust storm. He ran over to him, grabbed him and carried him away from the danger. Wiles lost his baseball cap in the process, but he saved Bauer from possible injury.
Wiles told TODAY.com that he was scared for Bauer and wanted to help him as fast as he could. He said he has an 11-year-old sister and seeing Bauer in trouble freaked him out. He also said that the parents were very grateful for his heroic act.
Bauer’s father, Brian Zoya, who witnessed the incident, praised Wiles for his selflessness and courage. He said that Wiles was raised right and did what was right. He also said that Bauer was in shock after the dust devil but continued playing two more games that day.
Bauer told TODAY.com that he felt scared and couldn’t breathe much when he was caught in the dust devil. He said he tried to think of something happy, but it was hard. He also said that he was going to give Wiles a big hug when he sees him again.
Wiles and Bauer are scheduled to meet on March 17 for a proper introduction. They have become friends after their shared experience, and have exchanged phone numbers.
The dust devil incident has made national headlines and has been shared widely on social media. Many people have commented on Wiles’ bravery and kindness and have called him a hero. Wiles said he was just doing his job and didn’t expect so much attention.
Dust devils are common wind phenomena that occur under clear skies and light winds, when the ground can warm the air to temperatures well above the temperatures just above the ground. They are usually harmless but can be destructive if they lift dust and other debris into the air.
It's the viral video that has two local athletes in the national spotlight🌪
Today I got to catch up with both of them about what was going through their minds while inside the Dust Devil on the Diamond & how a scary few seconds started a long-lasting friendship.@ActionSportsJax pic.twitter.com/N5WqM4OzmF— Alivia Tassely (@AliviaASJax) May 16, 2023
