Lifeguard rushed to help drowning victim on Thanksgiving Day
Authorities have yet to release new details after a man was rushed to the hospital on Thanksgiving Day. The local fire department responding to a reported drowning at Ypao Beach in Tumon. Several people stepped in to help including lifeguard on duty Michael Benito.
The Thanksgiving holiday shaken up down on Thursday afternoon.
"A young female came running up to the tower to alert me that there was some sort of - she said a drowning and when I looked down where it was way toward PIC always toward the buoy line area," Benito recalled.
He's a longtime lifeguard with Parks & Recreation.
He along with other beachgoers and lifeguards at the nearby PIC hotel rushed to help a man who was unresponsive on the shore.
He said, "All I see is individuals on the shore line so the friends had already pulled in this male individual."
Benito calling 911 before stepping in to perform CPR.
"No breathing, no pulse and we just continued CPR. PIC lifeguard brought over an AED, the automated external defibrillator, the shock and we tried that and no shock advise. From there the medics had it," he said.
The man, described as being middle-aged, was rushed to the Guam Memorial Hospital by Guam Fire Department paramedics.
His condition has not yet been made public.
Meantime, Benito reminds the public to stay aware of your surroundings whenever going into Guam's waters.
Officials warn that a high risk of rip currents are expected into the weekend, noting rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.