By Steve Plunkett
For rescuing a woman pulled into the ocean by rip currents, veteran Gulf Stream Police Sgt. Bernard O’Donnell was handed a lifesaver award in an emotional presentation Dec. 13.
Tragically, he was unable to save the woman’s 15-year-old son, who went into the Atlantic at the county-operated Gulfstream Park with his younger brother while his mother watched from the shore early Nov. 10. When the younger child signaled her for help, she jumped into the water.
“That day, the winds were 25 miles an hour out of the northeast and the surf was so extreme that the 20-plus bystanders who were on the beach were unable to assist,” Police Chief Richard Jones told everyone assembled for the Town Commission’s monthly meeting. “So, had it not been for Sergeant O’Donnell, we would have lost the mother and a child.
“So we appreciate your heroic actions. Thank you.”
O’Donnell, who is 59 and joined the town’s police force 12 years ago, had to take a few moments to compose himself before thanking the chief for providing good advice, Deputy Chief John Haseley for providing comfort and the townspeople for providing him the tools to do the rescue.
“You were able to provide the equipment and the training that also helped me that day. I had the equipment in the car that helped and if it wasn’t for that … I probably wouldn’t have been successful,” he said.
All town police units have a rescue throw disk with 75 feet of rope, a lifeguard water rescue flotation device and a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
Townsfolk did even more, O’Donnell said, singling out Elizabeth Ruth for putting out a call for contributions.
“As you know, funerals can be very costly,” he said. “I attended the funeral and presented the check there so the family didn’t have to have an additional burden. I’m very thankful for that and for the residents that contributed to it, and it made the healing process a lot better.”
O’Donnell said his boss helped the healing process.
Chief Jones “made a great point, you know. If I wasn’t able to get to the mother in time, she would have had three children grow up without a mother. And I didn’t think about that, but he provided a great point there.”
O’Donnell thanked his wife, Maria, who was invited to attend the presentation.
“When I, when we get off duty we go home to the family, if it wasn’t for my loving wife who lives there for me,” he said, breaking up again. “Thank you very much.”
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