Deputy Donna Korb (with life ring) assists Irina Bereslavska from the surf after rescuing her in South Palm Beach. BELOW: Korb and Bereslavska meet again a couple of days after the rescue. Photos provided
By Faran Fagen
South Palm Beach, which has no public beach, doesn’t have lifeguards. But it does have Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy Donna Korb, and residents feel grateful — and safer — with her on patrol.
Especially thankful is Irina Bereslavska, who was visiting the area from New York. Korb saved Bereslavska’s life on May 8 when, during a normal day on her shift near 3520 S. Ocean Blvd., the deputy shed her uniform and dove into the ocean to rescue the struggling 68-year-old.
Just after 5:30 p.m., Korb witnessed Bereslavska enter the water. Her police training teaches her to look for anything out of place, and she grew concerned due to the current and the swimmer’s age.
Once Korb saw that Bereslavska was struggling to make it back to shore, she notified dispatch, shed her gear, and entered the water to rescue the swimmer.
“It was like any other day on shift until I saw Irina in need of help,” Korb said. “That’s when years of dive experience seemed to kick in, knowing the danger she was in if not reached quickly.”
Korb worked with residents to obtain a pool rescue ring float, swam out and handed the float to the distressed swimmer, then guided her back to shore.
Once out of the water, Bereslavska was assessed by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Because she had low oxygen levels, it was determined that she needed to be transported to JFK Hospital.
Without the intervention of Korb, who sustained no injuries, the likelihood Bereslavska would have drowned was high, authorities said.
“When I reached Irina, I felt the immediate need to calm her and get her to focus on my instruction,” said Korb, who had never attempted a beach rescue like this before — although she was a certified scuba instructor and rescue diver before she began working for the Sheriff’s Office in 2000.
In high school and college, she encountered some swimmers in distress while working on dive boats.
“After grasping the rescue ring and calming down, Irina seemed almost frozen as we worked our way into shore,” the deputy said. “She was extremely tired and exhausted once we finally set foot on the sand.”
Deputies assigned to PBSO District 19 South Palm Beach have a presence on or about the beach as much as possible when not patrolling the roadways, Sgt. Mark Garrison said.
He wasn’t surprised when he heard of Korb’s heroics.
“I’m extremely proud of her and the great work she does in the community,” he said. “Her efforts every day are a true representative of what we do and why we do it.”
Korb was not specifically monitoring the beach surf like a lifeguard that day. She was patrolling throughout town on an ATV and stopped to chat with a resident while overlooking the beach.
A deputy on an ATV serves and protects the public however needed, just as deputies do on the roadways, Garrison said.
As for Korb, she was greeted with a pleasant surprise on her patrol not long after the rescue.
“The satisfaction for me was running into Irina two days later, at the same location, with a big smile,” Korb said. “I’m just glad she is in good health and back out enjoying the water.”
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