Key West The Newspaper

Chief Donie Lee today presented three Key West Police officers with the Lifesaving Award for saving the life of a drowning man.

On April 21st Officers David Kouri, Michael Pettee and Billy Vazquez responded to a drowning call on North Roosevelt Blvd. Officer Kouri was first on the scene and saw the victim, a 58 year old man, unconscious and floating almost completely submerged in the water. Officer Kouri jumped off the sea wall and into the water and immediately repositioned the victim’s head, opened his airway and cleared his nose and mouth. He noticed that the victim had a pulse and was struggling to breathe.

Officer Pettee arrived and, without hesitation, jumped into the water. Together, the two officers moved the victim to shallow water so they could lift him out.

In the meantime, Officer Vazquez arrived on scene and assisted lifting the victim out of the water. Officer Vazquez saw that the victim had stopped breathing and immediately initiated rescue breathing, which he continued until Fire and Rescue arrived on scene and took over medical care.

“The rapid response and fast assessment of the situation by all three officers are to be commended,” said Chief Lee. “Their actions saved this man’s life.”