Greenbrier Lifeguards Honored for Saving Child’s Life After Drowning Incident

Per a release from the Washington County Division of Emergency Services (DES), five lifeguards at Greenbrier State Park have received top honors for their decisive actions that saved a child from drowning earlier this summer. The awards recognize their quick response, effective CPR, and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), which brought the young patient back to life before emergency crews arrived.

The incident occurred on June 27, 2025, when a 911 call reported a pediatric drowning victim in cardiac arrest. Emergency responders reached the scene about 12 minutes later to find that the lifeguard team had already removed the child from the water, initiated high-performance CPR, applied the AED, and achieved a return of spontaneous circulation. The child was then transported to Meritus Medical Center for further care.

Bethany Starnes, 18, Connor Maguire, 20, Wyatt Maguire, 19, Hayden Holt, 20, and Kyle Matthews, 16, made up the lifeguard team recognized for their efforts. Boonsboro EMS and Community Rescue Service later commended the group’s work to the county’s EMS Quality Assurance Office.

The honors included Valor Awards from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Life Savers Award from Meritus Medical Center and DES, and the Right Care When It Counts Award from the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. Officials emphasized that the team’s vigilance, training, and coordination directly led to a life being saved — underscoring the importance of safety preparedness in public recreational areas.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from Washington County Division of Emergency Services press release

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