Water rescue team saves two lives Published Aug. 23, 2004 By Airman 1st Class Sarah Gregory 36th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFPN) -- The fire department water rescue team here rescued two swimmers at a local beach Aug. 21. When the rescue team arrived on scene just after midnight, security forces were already there, said Master Sgt. Gregory Chesser, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant fire chief for training. The victim had been swept beyond a reef about 90 to 150 feet out, and another man who tried to help was caught on the reef.“This was our first night [on] water rescue,” said Senior Airman Kevin Klein, 36th CES rescue team member. “The man on the reef was safe, but the person out past the reef was in more immediate danger, so we went for him first.”The swimmer had been in the water for more than 20 minutes and was tired and exhausted when he was pulled out of the water, said Airman Klein, who was riding on the back of the Jet Ski driven by Airman 1st Class Kaimana Macam-Mehrtens. Swimming at the beach, with its strong currents and unpredictable riptides, is so dangerous that swimmers are prohibited from going into the water at night. “This incident clearly demonstrates that our safety briefings are serious,” said Col. P.K. White, 36th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. “Reef walking not only puts you in danger, it also endangers the lives of the rescue team.”“It was a wake-up call,” Airman Klein said. “(The victim’s) family was all out there, screaming and watching. It was very sad and motivating at the same time.”A number of factors went into making this a successful rescue effort instead of a recovery situation. A phone at the beach connects directly to law enforcement members, said Staff Sgt. John Cartwright, 36th CES main fire station captain. The victim’s family members were able to quickly call security forces, who sent rescue forces. This cut down on the amount of time the victim had to spend in the water. Sergeant Cartwright estimated from the moment they arrived on scene, it took only 10 minutes before the victim was pulled from the water.“We got lucky because (the swimmer) got away from the reef instead of swimming toward it, and the water was calm that evening,” Airman Klein said. “The swimmer past the reef also had a flashlight with him, which is how we knew he was in the water and how we could locate him.”Although the water rescue team’s Airmen train monthly to keep their response time down and to have practice in the water, their training is usually during the day.“We have never trained at night,” Sergeant Cartwright said, explaining it was usually too dangerous to try. This night the tide was low, which increased the risk of hitting the reef. The rescue team had to be exactly in the cut opening in the reef, or their Jet Skis will get stuck on top of it, officials said.Conducting a night rescue presented challenges to the team they normally do not experience during daytime.“We couldn’t see the man in the water, and it was difficult finding the cut in the reef because we couldn’t tell where the waves were breaking,” Airman Klein said. “It’s a whole different world at night -- it’s a lot scarier.”The Airmen credit their success to their intense training and their group effort.They have to complete a certification course that covers Jet Ski operations, ocean currents and conditions and a swimming test, Airman Klein said. “It’s all about teamwork and relying on your driver,” he said.“I’m very proud of our rescue team,” Colonel White said. “They saved a man’s life out there; what they did was nothing short of heroic."