TRAVERSE CITY — Three rescue swimmers, from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, responded to an unusual emergency situation Thursday afternoon.
According to the Coast Guard, Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Mauricio, Petty Officer 2nd Class James Lowen and Petty Officer 3rd Class Bradley Beauchamp, felt a shockwave and a loud explosion while they were walking back the air station after lunch. They say the explosion came from a nearby welding shop and called to confirm.
We’re told someone at the shop said responders were on the way, but they were in need of help.
The Coast Guard says the swimmer grabbed EMS “go bags” and went over to the scene. When they got there, they say they saw a Traverse City police officer supporting someone’s neck. They say they immediately put that person in a cervical collar, gave the patient oxygen and stabilized the person until an ambulance arrived.
“I’m just glad we were close enough to have a short response time,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Mauricio. “Part of being a Coast Guard rescue swimmer is a bias for action, being able to respond at a moment’s notice regardless of the situation. Thanks to the immediate response of our local EMS, we were able to stabilize the survivor and get him to a higher level of care as quickly as possible.”