Lifeguards, Staff Honored For Saving Man Who Nearly Drowned At Public Pool

By Sam Borcia, the Lake & McHenry County Scanner

The pool staff who successfully revived a man who was unresponsive after nearly drowning in a public pool near Vernon Hills last month were presented awards on Thursday.

The incident happened around 5:15 p.m. on June 14 at the Vernon Township Peterson Park Pool, 16652 North Buffalo Grove Road in unincorporated Vernon Hills.

The Lincolnshire Riverwoods Fire Protection District said at the time that dispatchers received a call for a report of a cardiac arrest at the pool.

Dispatchers were told that the incident was for a drowning victim.

Emergency crews arrived to find the patient out of the pool and CPR was being performed by the lifeguards.

Emergency crews assisted with advanced life support measures, fire officials said.

File Photo – Vernon Township William E. Peterson Park | Photo: Vernon Township

The male victim was revived and talking as paramedics began to transport them to a nearby hospital.

The fire district credited the pool staff’s quick actions of rescuing the subject and immediately performing CPR.

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Ainslee Cutler, Payton Ernsteen, Ethan Greenhouse, Brian Povilus, Kylie Schuldt and Austin Zehnder were awarded for their actions during a Vernon Township board meeting on Thursday.

Andrea Comes, who is the aquatics director, was also recognized for creating an emergency action plan and conducting staff training that contributed to the successful rescue.

“These lifeguards reacted just as they were trained and helped save a drowning victim in the pool. They reacted quickly, initiated life saving CPR and called 911,” the fire district said.

“We were happy to be there tonight to see these lifeguards get recognized for their outstanding life saving work!”

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.