WATCH: (Scroll Down For Video) Ten-year-old Jayson Swezey got the surprise of his life when he saw his sailor father, who had spent the last seven months in Afghanistan, waiting for him at the end of the pool.
In the video from the event at Mason Community Center in Ohio, Jayson is seen swimming his 50-meter butterfly, unaware that his father, Navy Chief Petty Officer Paul Swezey, is standing on the pool deck in his uniform.
Swezey returned home two weeks early from his latest deployment and decided to surprise his son at the 13th annual Manta Rays Intrasquad Swim Meet.
As soon as the 10-year-old athlete completed the race, he looked up, saw his dad and jumped out of the water and into his open arms.
‘Needless to say there was not a dry eye in the pool,’ a Facebook post on City of Mason Recreation’s page said of the father-son reunion.
In the video that was posted on the social media site Monday, Jayson and Paul are seen embracing on the crowded pool deck for a long while before walking away together.
The 39-second clip has been shared more than 10,440 times as of Thursday morning.
Speaking of the moment he was reunited with his son after a long absence, Mr Swezey grew emotional, summing it up as ‘one of the best feelings in the world.’
Swezey also had a surprise in store for his younger son, Curtis, who, according to his mother, did a double take after finding his dad sitting on the couch in their living room later that day.
More than 260 Mason Manta Ray swimmers kicked off the 2015-2016 swimming season with the 13th Annual Manta Rays Intrasquad Swim Meet, but for one particular swimmer, it was much more than the first meet of the year.In front of a packed natatorium at the Mason Community Center, the City of Mason’s Manta Rays in Southwest Ohio welcomed home US Navy Chief Paul Swezey! After seven months in Afghanistan, Swezey came home two weeks early to surprise his family, and to be a surprise lane timer for his 10 year-old son Jayson!While Jayson was swimming his 50 butterfly, his Dad walked onto the pool deck in uniform and was standing behind his lane as he finished his race. As soon as he completed the race, he looked up and jumped out of the water to hug his dad. Needless to say there was not a dry eye in the pool.The rest of the meet ran smoothly thanks to great parent volunteers and the swimmers. Overall, the swimmers lit up the water with 747 best times and 19 new meet records!
Posted by City of Mason Recreation on Monday, 12 October 2015
