His first attempt missed, but with help from a nearby woman who handed him a second float, he tried again.
Video footage captured by witness Robert Nay shows the drone battling heavy wind and overcast skies as it lowers the flotation device to within reach.
“She got it — woo!” a bystander can be heard cheering as the girl clings to the preserver.
Moments later, first responders arrived and brought the girl safely to shore.
🛑 No Lifeguards on Duty Despite Dangerous Conditions
Nay posted on Facebook that the girl had been swimming with two friends when she was pulled out by the dangerous riptide.
