Lifeguards Carson Tate and Shelby Yaeger were among a team of four that helped save the life of a young girl who nearly drowned at Combest Pool on Wednesday.
Owensboro Parks and Recreation Director Amanda Rogers confirmed that the girl is now in good condition.
The incident happened during one of the Parks and Recreation Summer Day Camps.
“We had four guards on duty and the young camper was in a hard spot to see,” Tate said. “Luckily one of the day camp supervisors spotted her out and told Shelby to go check on her. When Shelby got her up, I saw her humped over the shoulder non-responsive.”
Tate said that he ran over to do rescue breathing while Yaeger did compressions.
Yaeger described what she felt in the moment.
“I remember my training, but I was scared I would do something wrong,” Yaeger said. “I think I did it right.”
Although the duo said that it’s unfortunate when a situation like this happens, they are now more confident in their skills as lifeguards.
Recreation Facilities Manager Jennifer Hodges described the training that lifeguards such as Tate and Yaeger go through to obtain those skills.
“They get trained in CPR and first aid for adult, infant, and child, and they have to go through all the water rescues,” Hodges said. “It is a lot of detailed work and a lot of people aren’t able to do it.”
Rogers said she was proud of Tate and Yaeger for their actions.
“They really are heroes,” Rogers said. “They made sure that young lady could go home to her family that night and that’s exactly the job we put them in.”
In addition, Rogers encouraged parents to enroll their kids in swim lessons, or teach their kids how to swim.
“I think it’s really important for everybody to understand that water, for as much fun as it is, can be dangerous as well,” Rogers said. “Help them to understand what to do and not to do in the water.”
With their actions receiving high praises, Tate and Yaeger commented on what it feels like to be called a hero.
“It feels like it wasn’t a huge thing, but I know it really was,” Yaeger said.
