A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helicopter pilot is being hailed a hero for saving potentially dozens of lives Saturday when he put his aircraft in between a large speeding boat and racers swimming in the ocean around a lighthouse off the Keys.

A helicopter pilot preventing tragedy for a group of swimmers in the Florida Keys. The incident last week, as hundreds of swimmers competed in a charity swim to benefit the Alligator Reef Lighthouse.

A helicopter pilot for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) prevented tragedy by stopping a boat headed for a group of swimmers in Monroe County, authorities said.