Notable Nantucket Lifeguard Rescues During The Summer Of 2024

The island's lifeguards were honored Wednesday during the annual Nantucket Lifesavers Recognition Day ceremony for their work during a challenging summer on the water.

While some rescues garnered publicity, not all of them received headlines. Nantucket Current asked Harbormaster Sheila Lucey this week about some of the notable rescues and incidents over the summer that may not have gotten the attention they deserved. Here is what she shared:

• Sunday, July 14, 2024 11:30 a.m. Madaket Beach. Lifeguards Kate Lagasse, Isa Barros, and Ava Priest observed a 57-year-old woman emerging from the shore break supported by her partner. Recognizing a potential injury, they promptly took control of the situation. After inquiring about her condition, they learned she had been struck by a wave and was knocked down. She was alert and conscious and stated she was experiencing back, neck, and shoulder pain, along with tingling in her hands. With her consent, they stabilized her head, retrieved a backboard, and alerted EMS. They coordinated the arrival of additional guards on ATVs and efficiently secured the woman onto the backboard. She was then transported to the parking lot to await EMS transport to Nantucket Cottage Hospital. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with two fractured cervical vertebrae and three other fractured vertebrae. The lifeguard’s quick actions and exceptional application of their training likely prevented her from suffering paralysis.

• Friday, July 19, 2024 2:15 p.m. Beach Access 13D (near Ladies Beach). Lifeguards received a 911 call reporting a woman caught in a rip current at Beach Access 13D. Lifeguards Jake Johnson and Dayne Thorbahn responded via ATV to the scene where they quickly recognized the swimmer in distress and immediately entered the water. While Jake Johnson went out to assist the woman, Dayne Thorbahn maintained a visual, and provided critical communications with police dispatch, lifeguard supervisors, and the Harbormaster ensuring the safety of both guard and patron. They skillfully performed this rescue in difficult conditions and safely got her to shore. Upon getting her ashore Jake Johnson and Dayne Thorbahn compassionately and professionally performed an evaluation to ensure the patron was medically and emotionally sound and that no further medical assistance was necessary.

• Monday, August 5, 2024 2:50 p.m. Beach Access 6 (near Cisco Beach). Lifeguards Anna Kirkpatrick and Bella Milano responded to a call from police dispatch who reported two people 200 yards offshore at Beach Access 6. Lifeguards Kirkpatrick and Milano entered the water with tubes and fins and began making their way to the distressed parties. The swell was so big that the lifeguards could not maintain a visual on the swimmers and needed to audibly call to them to locate them. Lifeguards made contact with the patrons who had drifted an additional 50 yards from when the call had come in, and communicated to ATV supervisor Thorbahn on the beach using hand signals. Lifeguards began their extrication with the two patrons secured to rescue tubes. Upon nearing shore lifeguard Sunderman and supervisors Johnson and Roethke entered the water to assist in retrieving the patrons through the large shorebreak. Once removed from the water patrons were evaluated by lifeguards and determined that additional medical assistance was not needed.
• Saturday, August 10, 2024 2:30 pm Ladies Beach. Lifeguards were flying double red flags at Ladies Beach and across the entire south shore. Lifeguards Abby Asch, Gianna Quinn, and Supervisor Justin Roethke repeatedly asked patrons to not go into the water. They noticed three people enter the water where they immediately became in distress. The guards entered the water for the three distressed swimmers caught in a rip current 75 yards out. Supervisor Ethan Coggins maintained a visual on the parties in the water while providing communication to police dispatch and the Harbormaster. Despite battling the strong currents and dangerous shorebreak, lifeguards Asch, Quinn, and Roethke were able to get the three swimmers safely back to shore. No further medical assistance was necessary.
• Sunday August 18, 2024 10:05 am Nobadeer Beach. Lifeguards were flying double red flags across the south shore. The Lifeguards warned two patrons who were on the beach not to enter the water. A short time later, supervisor Kevin Johnson and lifeguard Honor Paton noticed two patrons near the end of the drive on who were waving from the water. Supervisor Johnson arrived on scene via ATV and immediately entered the water. Lifeguards Paton, Rothstein, Roberts, Thorbahn, and Dowling entered the water to assist bringing the patron in along with several surfers, against an extremely strong rip current. NFD and NPD responded to the area and assisted lifeguards in using a rescue reel and the patron made it safely to shore where they were evaluated by NFD.

"A huge shoutout to our incredible homegrown lifeguards Lana Bresette, Caroline Correia, Sophie Gerardi, Jake Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Maya Johnson, Quinn Keating, EV Pekarcik, Gianna Quinn, Justin Roethke, Elis Vieth, and Sam Zadroga," Lucey added. "These dedicated individuals have grown up right here on-island and have been with us since their early days as junior lifeguards starting when they were just 12 or 13 years old. Their local knowledge and deep familiarity with our beaches make them invaluable to both our lifeguard program and the community. They play a pivotal role in training new guards, especially those who are new to the island. We are so fortunate to have them on our team. They are truly some of our standouts and some of the best lifeguards we have on staff."