PETERSBURG — “You saved that guy’s life, and no matter what happens for the rest of your life, that gentleman owes you his life,” Capt. Joe O’Neill told lifeguard Ben Wilson.
It was Wilson, a member of the Upper Township Beach Patrol, who took the vital first step in rescuing a distressed swimmer by recognizing the danger and calling for assistance.
O’Neill recounted the story during a Township Committee meeting Aug. 14, when those who participated in the rescue were honored for their actions.
According to a resolution presented to the patrol members, Wilson called a code red Aug. 5 from the 1400 lifeguard stand, reporting that a man had been in hip-deep water when he lost his footing from a wave and was swept out by a rip current.
He was just the first link in a chain that led to a successful rescue.
After placing the call, Wilson went directly into the water and upon reaching the victim, who had been placed on a surf board by an unknown surfer, gave the victim the rescue can and locked his arms underneath the victim’s arms to prevent him from falling underwater.
“If he had not done that, the guy would not have made it back in,” O’Neill said. “By the time the jet ski arrived, he was exhausted, needed help getting out of the water.”
Lifeguard Lorna Connell, responding from the Williams Avenue stand on a personal watercraft, positioned the PWC so the victim could be placed on its sled. Then, guard Jack O’Hara secured himself on top of the victim and they made their way to shore where medic Wally Welliver, Capt. Joseph O’Neill and Lt. Grace Steele were waiting.
The victim was carried out of the water due to his exhaustion and being unable to support his own weight, then was lowered to the ground and placed on his side. Welliver evaluated him and advised that an ambulance be dispatched for further assistance at a hospital because the victim had swallowed large amounts of water.
While recognizing the efforts, Mayor Jay Newman said it takes a lot of work and a lot of training to be prepared for such events.
“It’s not about all of the training you do, it’s what you do with the training when the bell rings and it’s time to go,” he said.
UTBP Chief Bill Handley said 20 guards were on duty, and every single one of them had to do their part.
“It was a really team effort involving the whole beach patrol,” he said.
Handley said the patrol has made 39 rescues this season but this was the most serious one, noting the victim and his granddaughter “chose not to swim in front of our lifeguards.”
Short-term rentals, AEDs in businesses
In other news, Newman announced formation of a committee that will look into the pros and cons of short-term rentals and advise Township Committee.
Deputy Mayor Kim Hayes and Committeeman Mark Pancoast will join with four members of the public — Michelle Drewnowski, Bruce Riordan, Joe Falls and Maria Busz — and report back on their findings.
Newman also reported on an initiative to get automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in as many local businesses as possible. Township Committee is working with the Upper Township Business Association on the plan.
Newman said statistics show there are 383,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every day in the United States, 34 per hour, with a survival rate of less than 5 percent.
“Earlier this year we were able to honor some first responders. We had three cardiac arrests in a row and 100 percent survival rate,” he said, noting the key factor was access to an AED.
Calling it a “fairly inexpensive way to save a life,” Newman said Upper Township EMS would train business owners and staff members on their use.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff