Two Madison residents recognized for life-saving efforts

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – Madison Police Chief Larry Muncey presented livesaving awards to two Madison citizens whose quick thinking and actions saved the life of a 2-year-old boy.

After detailing the actions of the two individuals at the Madison City Council meeting on July 27, Muncey later ran through the incident, which involved Jamie Emerson, a Madison patrol officer.

On the evening of July 21, Muncey said, Emerson, along with HEMSI personnel, rushed to Carrington Cove apartments in response to a call regarding an accidental drowning.

“He saw that the 2-year-old child was, somehow, awake and conscious,” Muncey said.

Muncey said Emerson began asking the boy what had occurred, and the miraculous tale was relayed to the responding personnel.

After going into the water that evening, the 2-year-old came out of the inner tube he was on and went underwater, becoming unconscious. It wasn’t long until Oscar Garcia, who happened to be there that night, jumped into the complex’s pool to pull the boy out of the water.

After he was out of the water, Muncey said, Mark Savoie, another person previously unknown to the boy, began assessing the situation and gave him CPR. The compressions Savoie administered were enough to save the boy’s life and render him “conscious” and “awake,” as Muncey described, by the time emergency personnel reached the scene.

“I’m really proud of those two community members for stepping up and saving that child’s life,” Muncey said. “A lot of us want to make a difference, but those two individuals did.”

The boy was in good health at the Council meeting on July 27, when the two men who saved his life were presented the lifesaving awards by Muncey. Emerson, the responding officer, was also present at the presentation.