Zion Jerge is recognized at the Cal Poly Maritime Academy – credit, @calpoly_maritime
A merchant marine cadet has been hailed as a hero for saving a father who nearly drowned in a swimming pool while trying to save his drowning 25-year-old son.
“When I arrived at the pool, I saw the father floating face down,” Zion Jerge said, recounting the rescue that took place near his home in Foster City, California.
He had first heard screams, and ran towards an apartment complex where he saw scenes of obvious distress around a pool behind a fence.
“My body kind of just took over, like a fight-or-flight reaction, and I jumped over the fence and into the pool. I pulled the father out first because he was the one I saw first.”
“After I pulled him out, I heard more screaming and realized there was another man lying at the bottom of the deep end, which was his son he was trying to save. Once I pulled the son out of the pool, I realized he was unconscious.”
The California Polytechnic State University Marine Academy cadet immediately began CPR on the son. After expelling water from his lungs, he was again breathing on his own.
Foster City Police Department officers and San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department personnel arrived when Jerge’s work was finished. The man’s 25-year-old son was conscious and accompanied paramedics to the hospital for further examination and recovery.
“Cadet Jerge’s swift, decisive actions perfectly embody the core values we instill at the academy,” said Rear Admiral Eric C. Jones (Ret.), superintendent of Cal Poly Maritime Academy.
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“His ability to maintain composure under intense pressure, evaluate a rapidly evolving emergency and execute the rescue exemplifies the hands-on leadership and service to others we teach.”
Jerge also received a lifesaving commendation from the Foster City Police Department, recognizing him for “courage, composure, and a bias to action when others needed him most.”
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