Wednesday, June 25, 2003
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Wednesday, June 25, 2003 |
Red Cross honors PTC man for saving drowning boy in Puerto RicoBy JOHN MUNFORD
While vacationing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Greg Farmer of Peachtree City planned just to have a good time, see a few sights, and catch up with his wife, who was there on a special work assignment. He didn't imagine he would become a hero for saving a local boy who was drowning in the ocean. Farmer, 41, was recently presented with medals from the American Red Cross for risking his life to save the 12-year-old boy in January of 2002. Farmer didn't swim out totally unprepared. He was a competitive swimmer in high school and he had taken an advanced lifesaving class in college. Farmer was also fed by adrenaline as he swam out to the boy only to find him unconscious, purple and barely breathing. The gravity of the situation drained his excitement as Farmer realized he was the boy's only hope. On the way back, he realized that the pool training hadn't prepared him for an ocean rescue. As Farmer brought the boy back towards the shoreline, he improvised a procedure to make it back safely since he had no floatation device. Each time a wave hit, Farmer kicked hard to propel the boy over the wave while he held his breath and went under. The process became exhausting, and fear began to set in. He wasn't worried about drowning himself despite the crashing waves he had swum "fatigued" before and knew his limits. His real fear was far worse. "I was really scared I'd have to leave the boy behind," Farmer said. "I had swam a long time and it looked like the beach was quite a ways away." Once Farmer got about halfway back to the sand, a police officer met him with a decorative lifesaver ring that was pulled off a nearby restaurant. And a man on a jet ski pulled up, giving Farmer his life vest to support the boy The jet ski operator had two girls on board and couldn't help more without putting them in danger, Farmer noted. With the flotation devices, Farmer got the boy to shore where he was resuscitated and taken to a local hospital. He learned in the newspapers the next day that the boy survived. The experience was gratifying for Farmer, who felt he had to try and save the boy because of the care given to his son, William, who was in and out of hospitals at 18 months of age with a condition that was later diagnosed and treated successfully. "I really felt like I had the obligation ... to prove I appreciated it," Farmer said, referring to the efforts of physicians and medical staff who cared for William. After the ambulance took the boy away, Farmer declined to stick around and revel in his heroics. He did take up an offer for a complimentary meal at the nearby Bennigan's restaurant as thanks, however. "I really just wanted to get out of there, get cleaned up and call my mother," Farmer said, since he wanted to share the news with her. The medals from the Red Cross came with a certificate of merit noting that Farmer was bestowed the highest honor the organization gives for lifesaving actions. The certificate was signed by President George W. Bush. "It feels funny to accept an award for something like that," Farmer said. Farmer learned after the fact that section of the shoreline had been the site of several shark attacks, which might explain why others hesitated to try and save the boy. He was also told that there had been several drownings in the area, but locals continued to swim there despite rules to the contrary. Safer swimming spots on the beach are located at the resorts along the ocean, Farmer noted. Farmer recommends that anyone should take life safety courses just in case the need ever arises to help someone else out. A person in need could appear anywhere, such as a restaurant or a car accident along the road, he noted. "It really feels great to save someone," Farmer said. "It was well worth it."
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