Sailor Makes Us Proud
Pearl Harbor Sailor Rescues Girl from Submerged Vehicle
Story Number: NNS060124-04 Release Date: 1/24/2006 11:45:00 AM
By Journalist 2nd Class Ryan C. McGinley, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- A Sailor assigned to Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 2, Executive Transport Division Detachment, rescued a 15-year-old girl from a vehicle that sank in the Ala Wai Canal in Honolulu Jan 14.
While approaching the Waikiki Yacht Club entrance, Aviation Structural Mechanic (Safety Equipment) 1st Class (AW) Larry Cummins observed that it looked as if someone had dumped a load of trash into the water. He also noticed bubbles rising to the surface. After surmising that it was a vehicle, Cummins jumped into the water to see if anyone was alive inside.“I saw a little bit of white and could barely just see the top of the car,” said Cummins. “I thought, ‘I have to go check and see if anybody is in that vehicle.’ I took my shirt off and jumped in feet first,” he said.
“I didn’t want to dive, because you couldn’t see the vehicle.” Cummins successfully located the car and, during approximately five dives, he tried unsuccessfully to open the passenger-side and rear passenger-side doors. After coming up for a breath of air, Cummins dove down again and opened the driver’s-side door.
After feeling around the inside of the vehicle on several more dives, Cummins located the 15-year-old girl trapped insided and brought her to the surface.“She wasn’t moving and I didn’t know if she was alive, but I was going to try all I could,” said Cummins. “That’s all I could do was try.”
Cummins swam with the girl approximately 15 yards to the pier, where she was pulled from the water and received further assistance from a nurse. The girl was taken to the hospital and has since made a full recovery. Cummins dove down an additional time to search for other occupants of the vehicle until the Honolulu Fire Department and rescue divers arrived on scene.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen awarded Cummins a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal during an all-hands call Jan. 20 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe, noting Cummins' heroic achievement, initiative, perseverance and loyal devotion to duty. “He performed some heroic acts to save the life of a young lady who was all but gone,” said Mullen. “[He] made a big difference to the family of that young lady and made all of us who wear the Navy uniform very proud.”
Story Number: NNS060124-04 Release Date: 1/24/2006 11:45:00 AM
By Journalist 2nd Class Ryan C. McGinley, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- A Sailor assigned to Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 2, Executive Transport Division Detachment, rescued a 15-year-old girl from a vehicle that sank in the Ala Wai Canal in Honolulu Jan 14.
While approaching the Waikiki Yacht Club entrance, Aviation Structural Mechanic (Safety Equipment) 1st Class (AW) Larry Cummins observed that it looked as if someone had dumped a load of trash into the water. He also noticed bubbles rising to the surface. After surmising that it was a vehicle, Cummins jumped into the water to see if anyone was alive inside.“I saw a little bit of white and could barely just see the top of the car,” said Cummins. “I thought, ‘I have to go check and see if anybody is in that vehicle.’ I took my shirt off and jumped in feet first,” he said.
“I didn’t want to dive, because you couldn’t see the vehicle.” Cummins successfully located the car and, during approximately five dives, he tried unsuccessfully to open the passenger-side and rear passenger-side doors. After coming up for a breath of air, Cummins dove down again and opened the driver’s-side door.
After feeling around the inside of the vehicle on several more dives, Cummins located the 15-year-old girl trapped insided and brought her to the surface.“She wasn’t moving and I didn’t know if she was alive, but I was going to try all I could,” said Cummins. “That’s all I could do was try.”
Cummins swam with the girl approximately 15 yards to the pier, where she was pulled from the water and received further assistance from a nurse. The girl was taken to the hospital and has since made a full recovery. Cummins dove down an additional time to search for other occupants of the vehicle until the Honolulu Fire Department and rescue divers arrived on scene.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen awarded Cummins a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal during an all-hands call Jan. 20 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe, noting Cummins' heroic achievement, initiative, perseverance and loyal devotion to duty. “He performed some heroic acts to save the life of a young lady who was all but gone,” said Mullen. “[He] made a big difference to the family of that young lady and made all of us who wear the Navy uniform very proud.”
posted by Greg Finnegan @ 7:57 PM
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