‘Dawson’s Creek’: Which Cast Member Saved 2 Women from Drowning?

Though there are plenty of dramatic moments throughout the six seasons of the hit TV drama Dawson’s Creek, there were a few moments that the cast experienced in real-life that rivaled the spectacle of events that were occurring on screen. One such moment was when one of the brave actors managed to rescue two women from drowning.

Unlike most TV shows that are filmed in New York or Los Angeles, Dawson’s Creek was actually filmed in a small town. Though the hit show was set in fictional Capeside, Massachusetts, the series was actually shot in Wilmington, North Carolina. Wilmington is actually the hometown of the creator, Kevin Williamson. Since Dawson’s Creek is largely based on his upbringing, it was the perfect choice for the show.

Filming ‘Dawson’s Creek’ in Wilmington had its ups and downs for the cast

Filming in Wilmington certainly had its pros and cons. In some ways, it was great for the cast because they were given the opportunity to truly bond a become a family. Furthermore, when Dawson’s Creek became wildly popular, the cast didn’t have to deal with the incessant paparazzi that is often found in bigger cities. But there were some downsides as well. Over the years, the cast has been candid about the fact that there wasn’t much for them to do in Wilmington on days when they weren’t filming.

One activity that kept much of the Dawson’s Creek cast entertained was spending time at the beach. Joshua Jackson (who played the beloved Pacey Witter) was actually hanging out at Wrightsville Beach with a friend and a few of his castmates one evening when he noticed two women in the ocean were drowning. An excellent swimmer, Jackson and his friend jumped in to save them.

Joshua Jackson saved two women from drowning

Back in 1999, The New York Post reported that Jackson, who was only 21 at the time, showed no fear and dove into the surf to help the women. However, when he and his friend reached them, the tide was so intense that the four couldn’t get back to shore despite the Dawson’s Creek alum and his friend being strong swimmers.

Fortunately, the Coast Guard was nearby and when they were alerted, a boat was sent and all four people were rescued. Jackson was able to keep the two women floating and alive until the Coast Gaurd arrived and aside from being a little banged up, nobody was seriously injured. Though Jackson didn’t make a big deal out of the experience, it was clear that the Dawson’s Creek star saved two lives that day.

Jackson is as adept in the ocean as his ‘Dawson’s Creek’ character, Pacey

It would seem that Jackson’s fearlessness in the open water rivals that of his Dawson’s Creek character. Fans of the show may recall that Pacey was a gifted sailor and spent plenty of time out on boats. In fact, he and Joey sailed around for an entire summer. We’re sure that the women who were rescued are appreciative of the fact that Jackson is comfortable in the open waters as the character that made him famous.