DEM Officer Credited With Saving Fisherman's Life

JAMESTOWN, RI — A Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management officer was applauded for saving a person's life on a fishing vessel over the weekend. Officer Josh Beuth was the first to arrive at the scene and conducted CPR, the department said.

Sunday morning, a fishing vessel near the Jamestown bridge reported that someone on board had a medical emergency. Beuth assumed the vessel was likely to come ashore in the Plum Point area, the DEM said, and was the first to arrive at the scene. He went into the water and boarded the vessel, where the person was unconscious.

Beuth conducted CPR and was able to get a faint pulse, the DEM said. North Kingstown police and EMS, along with Rhode Island State Police also arrived at the scene and brought the person to the hospital, where they were later reported to be in stable condition.

"I’m lucky I was in the right place at the right time, which allowed me to help in this situation," Beuth said. "Our Dispatchers did a great job of relaying my location, status, and needs to the other agencies responding, which I’m sure helped contribute to a positive outcome."

The Department of environmental Management applauded Beuth, saying his actions reflect the "mission to protect public safety, public health and natural resources."