|
The
Officers, Directors and Members of
US SAILING
are
pleased to present the
ARTHUR B. HANSON RESCUE MEDAL
to
|
The Rescuers at Texas A&M
University of Galveston
"Open Team Race" |
for the rescue as follows:
On February 23, 2002, an alleged suicidal man drove
his minivan at a high rate of speed into Offats Bayou in Galveston Bay,
Texas, landing and sinking twenty yards offshore in twelve feet of
water. Inside the van were five passengers, six months to twenty-six
years in age.
The van landed within thirty feet of the starting
line of the Open Team Race Regatta, being hosted by Texas A&M
University in Galveston, while the undergraduate sailors, coaches, and
other volunteers were preparing a start. Approximately forty seconds
later the non-English speaking driver emerged from the sunken van.
Bilingual sailors ascertained there were still five occupants remaining
in the van. Participants in the regatta dove into the sixty-degree water
to the submerged van and made continuous, repeated dives, with
visibility of less than twelve-inches, to try to rescue the trapped
occupants.
Failing to get the doors or windows open, the
rescuers called for rocks from shore which, along with an anchor, were
utilized to smash the van’s windows. The sailors spent approximately
ten minutes recovering the five occupants, all of whom were unconscious.
The victims were given first aid and CPR on shore by the sailor
rescuers, and it was during this time that emergency vehicles arrived.
All the victims were transported to the hospital and found to be in
critical condition. Within two months, however, all five were released
from the hospital with excellent prognoses.
Many of the rescuers received cuts and abrasions from
the glass, but have recovered fully. Local emergency response
professionals were amazed that no rescuers were themselves drowned, as
the statistics for rescuers becoming trapped underwater are alarming.
For the rescuers’ significant courage, seamanship,
and compassion, and incredible spontaneous coordination,
US SAILING is pleased to present the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to
the sailors turned divers, first-aid and CPR providers, and rescuers:
Brence Bedwell, Jenipher Cate, Gerard Coleman, Jeff Daigle, Shannon
Galway, John Gross, Kevin Gunn, James Loynes, Scott Marsden, Chris Noll
IV,
Spencer Ogden, Gretchen Poplinger, Luckey Reed, Robin Reger, Joe
Richardson, Matt Romberg, Jake Scott, Bill Self, Gene Soltero, Laura
Stover, Julie Svaton, Danna Svejkosky, and Andy Towles.
Ralph Naranjo
Chairman, Safety at Sea Committee
By Direction
|
The Arthur B. Hanson Rescue
Medal was
presented May 11, 2002
at
the Texas A&M University of Galveston graduating ceremony
by James Tichenor on behalf of US SAILING. |
|
|
|
|
|
Left to right: Jim Tichenor, Danna Svejkosky,
Chris Noll, IV, Robin Reger, Jeff Daigle, Kelly Cunningham (Sailing
team member) and Gerard Coleman (Team Director for TAMUG).
Teri Fowle, Photographer. |
Rescue Medal presented May 11, 2002 at the Texas A&M University of
Galveston graduating ceremony by James Tichenor from US SAILING.
Chris Noll, III, Photographer. |
|
|
|
Left to right: Jim Tichenor, Robin Reger, Danna Svejkosky, Chris
Noll, IV, Jeff Daigle, Kelly Cunningham, and Gerard Coleman.
Chris
Noll, III, Photographer. |
Left to right: Jim Tichenor, Danna
Svejkosky, Chris Noll, IV, Robin Reger, Jeff Daigle, Kelly Cunningham
(Sailing team member) and Gerard Coleman (Team Director for TAMUG).
Chris Noll, III, Photographer. |
|
|
|
February 23, 2002. At the time
both these photos were taken, only the baby was left in the van,
the other 4 family members plus the driver had been taken a shore.
These two photos were taken probably less than 30 seconds apart.
The baby was brought to the surface a few seconds after I took the
second picture. Lucky Reid hit the surface with a baby seat held
over his head and a very blue baby strapped in the seat. At the
time the baby was brought out, we were all shocked, I was not
aware that there was a baby in the van and was totally unprepared
for the sight.
Dr. Timothy M. Dellapenna, Author and Photographer. |
|
|
|
|
DETAILS:
|
|
#1
A nomination for the
ARTHUR B. HANSON RESCUE MEDAL
It is an honor to present this nomination for the Arthur
B. Hanson Rescue Medal.
On February 23rd, 2002, Texas A&M
University at Galveston was hosting a team-racing regatta on Offets Bayou-
an area of Galveston Bay. During the event a mini-van, carrying a total of
six people, was driven at high speed off a dead end road - the van flew
approximately 15-20 yards and sank in 9 feet of water.
The van landed within 30 feet of the starting line where
the participants were maneuvering the 420’s for a race start. The van
sank almost immediately, and approximately 40 seconds later a man, the
driver, emerged from the sunken van. Upon learning there were still 5
occupants remaining in the van, participants in the regatta swam to the
submerged van and made continual, repeated dives in an effort to rescue
the trapped occupants.
Failing to get the doors or windows open, the sailors
called for rocks from shore to smash the windows- an anchor from the
regatta motorboat was also used to smash the windows. With a water
temperature of 60F and visibility of less than 12 inches, the sailors
spent approximately 10 minutes successfully recovering the remaining
victims- all of whom were unconscious.
The victims were:
-
Rosalinda Martinez, age 26 years
-
her daughter Linda, age 6 years
-
her son Melvin, age 4 years
-
Maria Rodriguez, age 21 years
-
her infant daughter Brenda, age 6 months
After 5 minutes the sailors had rescued Rosalinda; by 8
minutes all but the infant Brenda had been rescued- she was strapped
securely in a child seat. After a total time of approximately 10 minutes,
baby Brenda was removed from the vehicle and brought to the surface. All
five occupants were administered CPR/ first aid on shore, and it was
during this time that emergency vehicles arrived.
All the victims were transported to the hospital, however
baby Brenda was unable to be revived and was pronounced dead on arrival at
the hospital. The doctors put the infant aside on a gurney, enabling them
to attend the other triage victims. Seeing this, one of the paramedics
went to the unattended baby girl, whispered a prayer to her, then kissed
her on the forehead. At that time she started breathing.
As of March 25th, 2002, all five of the victims
are out of intensive care- indeed all but Brenda are at home.
Many of the rescuers received lacerations, though none
were seriously injured during this rescue. The two sailors who were most
severely cut by the broken glass have made full recoveries. Local
emergency response professionals are amazed that no rescuers were
themselves drowned- the statistics for rescuers themselves becoming
trapped underwater are alarming indeed.
It is important to recognize the sailing teams from the
Texas A&M University at Galveston, the University of Texas, Texas
A&M University (College Station), along with the non- student regatta
participants, for their equally vital roles in the rescue efforts.
Several of the sailors have also been nominated for the
Carnegie Lifesaving Award- a national award of merit.
In the process of effecting the rescue of the five victims
from the submerged vehicle, every regatta participant demonstrated
significant courage, seamanship, and compassion- greatly reflecting credit
on sailors, humanity, and sailing itself.
Andrew McInnis
#2
I know the people rescued weren't in a boat, but does it matter in this
case? This is above and beyond anything ...
I signed up for the SEISA email list so I could access
messages about what happened and here's a posting from the District
President (an undergraduate) who was personally involved. He's mentioned
in the newspaper stories. It's got his phone number so more appropriate
details can be acquired. To make it official, I hereby nominate all the
rescuers involved for the Hanson medal. If there's more paper I need to
push, let me know. If you want me to contact Jake for more complete names,
I will, unless there's someone more official who makes a formal contact,
anyway. Just let me know.
Gail Turluck MCSA Secretary
#3
SEISA,
I just wanted you to all know just how lucky we are to
sail with people in our district. You never know who you are sailing with.
This weekend we found out that there are several of us that need a
congratulations, and a huge thanks. At the team race classic in Galveston
there was a major accident. Several of the sailors both graduates and
undergrads jumped in to save 5 people. I just want to thank anyone that
had anything to do with the rescue from the sailors that put the boats
away to the people busting out windows. Personally I want to thank Gerard,
Chris, Lucky, Jeff, Bill, Spencer, John, and Brandon. If there were any
others that were working with the van I apologize because I don't remember
everyone.
Anyone that is reading this I beg you to pray for all of
the accident victims. God had us there for a reason on Saturday, and let's
all pray that all of these victims pull through. As of Sunday all of the
victims were in Critical condition. If you want the full story click on
the two links at the bottom. Thanks again to all involved. Without us the
victims would have perished. You are all blessed, and may God bless you.
Articles were published in the
Galveston News paper.
In His grip,
Jake Scott
SEISA President
Capt. TAMU Sailing
#4
I (Dr. Timothy M. Dellapenna) am the photographer, I am an
Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University at Galveston and we were
using my C&C 26 Gunner Schooner, as committee boat for the races. I
was on my boat, marking one end of the starting line when the van went in
the water. I actually saw the van leave the road and hit the water.
Imagine sitting on your boat around noon on a beautiful Feb. afternoon and
you hear a vehicle roaring down a dead end street, you hear a boom and you
look and a van leaves the road, with the engine still roaring and
accelerating and it flies through the air and lands less than 50 feet from
your boat. A back window blows out on impact, the van sinks and is out of
site and for a few seconds it is almost out of mind. Then someone from the
van hits the surface and the reality of the situation sinks in. One of the
rescuers, Joe Richardson, was on my boat and dived in as soon as the van
hit the water. Joe is on shore in red short in the photos, he is a
Freshman and an EMT. He was in the water, on top of the van, before the
father came to the surface. He was one of the first to start directing the
rescue efforts and went ashore with the first victim to administer
CPR and over saw that part of the rescue until the professional
rescue workers arrived. This was an open regatta, so at
least one of the rescuers was not a student. There were two other
adults on my boat, myself and Ash Battey, I called a mayday to the Coast
Guard and Ash called 911. Then, as the events unfolded I started pulling
things off of my boat to help with the rescue, including an engine crank
handle, a dive mask and a knife. The only thing which was really useful
was the dive mask, it was used to free the baby.
Articles Online:
http://media.www.thebatt.com/media
http://www.utexas.edu/opa/pubs/oncampus/02oc_issues/oc020403/oc_heroes.html
|
|
