City Employees Save Elderly Man from Centennial Lake

A pair of Edina employees were recognized last week for their role in saving the life of a 96-year-old man.

Tom Shirley and Doug May dove into the chilly waters of Centennial Lakes Park to save an elderly man who fell in while fishing at the outdoor park. The man was separated from a large group in the park and headed toward the lake with a fishing pole in tow. Just north of Hughes Pavilion, the man climbed down onto the lowest step near the water, lost his balance and fell into the lake.

Park Manager Tom Shirley noticed a large group gather near the panicked man, then rushed to see what was going on. Attempts to direct the man back to the side of the lake were unsuccessful as neither the man nor the group he was with smoke much English.

Shirley and Park Maintenance Supervisor May both leapt into the lake the rescue the man, lifting him back to the landing and calling 9-1-1 for additional assistance. Edina Fire Department paramedics arrived a short time later and helped the man.

Fire Chief Marty Scheerer recognized the life-saving efforts of Shirley and May at the Oct. 16 City Council meeting. He presented the two with Certificates of Merit, the highest possible award given to non-employees of the Edina Fire Department for saving someone's life or property.

"[They] truly are hometown heroes," Scheerer said. "Not only did they rescue this guy, but they continued to work and went to meetings with wet clothes on after."

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