Lifeguard saves girl from Indy pool

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A girl’s life was saved by lifeguards at a local pool in Indianapolis Friday afternoon.

According to Wayne Township Fire Department, lifeguards at the Thatcher Park Recreation Center on West Vermont Street rescued a 10-year-old girl who was found submerged in the deep end of the pool, unconscious.

Lifeguards told firefighters that the girl appeared to have suffered an unknown head injury and wasn't under water for very long. Indy Parks Deputy Director Jen Pittman said the girl reportedly had had swim lessons.

The girl was unresponsive at the time of the rescue and lifeguards immediately began CPR, resuscitating her. Rescue crews said the quick actions of on duty lifeguards saved her life.

"The training kicks in, is the expression we use, and that's exactly what happened today,” said Rich Irish, who trains Indy Parks lifeguards.

He oversees training for more than 300 lifeguards for Indy Parks' 21 facilities. Every week he requires the guards to take a two-hour training course, on top of the training they get when they're first hired. That way, the guards are always prepared.

"It's absolutely critical that we have guards that have not only been trained but also retain their skills," he said.

And Friday's incident showed the importance of that training.

“The lifeguards did exactly what they were trained to do, said Michael Pruitt, spokesman for Wayne Township Fire Department, whose rescue crews responded to the emergency call. "And I had the chance to speak to the staff there, and the intense training they go through, and that did pay off for them [Friday].”

Pruitt urged all adults - and children, when they're old enough - to get trained in CPR and learn to swim.

The girl was transported to Riley Hospital and was in stable condition.