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The
highest lifeguard award presented by USLA is the Medal of Valor.
The primary purpose for creating this award is to give due recognition
to an individual lifeguard who voluntarily risked their life,
to an extraordinary degree, in saving, or attempting to save another
person, or who sacrificed themselves for the benefit of others.
USLA also extends the Heroic Act Award to non-lifeguards.
2009 Medal of Valor Recipients:
Timothy Fellars - Ranger, California State, San Mateo County
James Nothhelfer - Lifeguard, California State, San Mateo County
On June 22, 2009, California State Park Peace Officers, Lifeguard James W. Nothhelfer and Ranger (and former 22 yr. Cal State Lifeguard) Timothy B. Fellars, responded to a report of an overturned boat off the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve near Moss Beach, a hazardous, shallow reef area. Officer Nothhelfer arrived on the scene, put his wetsuit on, and began to paddle out toward the victims. Facing nine foot choppy surf that was closely spaced due to the northwest winds that day and floating debris and gasoline caused from the overturned boat, Officer Nothhelfer made his way out through the rocky reef surf zone approximately 300 yards offshore. Six family members, including a six year old boy, had all been tossed into the 54 degree water when their boat overturned. Gathering five of the six family members together on top of his rescue paddleboard, Officer Nothhelfer was able to locate the sixth member who was clinging to the bow of the boat and brought him back to the paddleboard just before the boat sank. Officer Nothhelfer was able to hold on to all of the family members until Ranger Fellars arrived on the scene to provide additional help. Ranger Fellars put his wetsuit on and swam out through the same dangerous area to assist Officer Nothhelfer. Despite being hit repeatedly by the surf, together they were able to hold on to the family members until all were transferred to a waiting Patrol boat. Five of the family members were transported to area hospitals and treated for hypothermia. The 6 year old boy was transported by medical helicopter to an area hospital for severe hypothermia and near drowning. Officer Nothhelfer and Officer Fellars were not injured during this strenuous and dangerous ocean rescue.
2006 Medal of Valor Recipients:
Joel Gitelson - Los Angeles County
Joel Gitelson, a veteran Los Angeles County Lifeguard, was awarded with the 2006 USLA Medal of Valor for his rescue of 3 fisherman stranded on the rocks of Santa Barbara Island. In a pitch black night with gale force winds, Joel and Baywatch Captain Lance Dempsey raced 27 miles and arrived to find Coast Guard rescue swimmer Jody Larson on the rocks with one of the fishermen, whom she had pulled from the water. The other two victims were stranded with their boat atop the rocks. Joel jumped from Baywatch and swam through heavy kelp, crushing waves and high winds to reach the boat. Determining that the victims were too bruised and hypothermic to swim, a larger Coast Guard helicopter was called from San Diego. Joel assisted in the victims' basket lifts, then was lifted himself and dropped back at the Baywatch boat. Joel also received Los Angeles County's 2005 Valor Award for this rescue.
Eric Coats - Cal State Parks (Perris Lake)
Eric Coats, a California State Parks Lifeguard at Perris Lake, received the 2006 USLA Medal of Valor for the successful rescue of two small children trapped in a submerged mini-van. On August 21, 2005, Eric and his partner Eric Almquist were stopped in traffic at the launch ramps of Lake Perris when they observed a mini-van back into the water with 4 people inside. Authorities later determined that the owner's grandson, who was not familiar with the vehicle, thought he put it in reverse and accelerated. The mini-van surged backward and immediately filled with water. The driver and an adult passenger exited the van safely. While Lifeguard Almquist radioed Surcom, Lifeguard Coats instantly grabbed his tube and ran to the van, diving into the driver's door. He soon emerged with the two children safely under his arms. His partner, Lifeguard Almquist said, "I have never seen someone respond the way that Lifeguard Coats did.... he went beyond the call of duty."
USLA Lifeguard
Medal of Valor
Past Recipients from California agencies
| Albers,
Bob |
1999 |
San
Diego, CA |
| Bartlett,
Mike |
2005 |
Huntington Beach, CA. |
| Beuerlein,
Mike |
1989 |
Huntington
Beach, CA |
| Borland,
Tim |
2003 |
Port San Luis Harbor District, CA |
| Cicchetto,
Sean |
1996 |
San
Diego, CA |
| Coats,
Eric |
2006 |
Cal State Parks (Lake Perris) |
| Corbo,
Christian |
1998 |
Laguna
Beach, CA |
| Culp,
Casey |
1998 |
California
State Parks, CA |
| Fellars,
Timothy B. |
2009 |
California
State Parks, CA |
| Fesler,
Jeff |
2003 |
Port San Luis Harbor District, CA |
| Gitelson,
Joel |
2006 |
Los Angeles County, CA |
| Grigsby,
Scott |
1994 |
Los
Angeles County, CA |
| Griguoli,
Rich |
2003 |
California State Parks, CA |
| Harris,
Ed |
1999 |
San
Diego, CA |
| Horn,
Brit |
2005 |
Sonoma Coast State Beach, CA |
| Keulana,
Brian |
1996 |
Honolulu,
HI |
| Korber, Paul |
1998 |
Ventura County, CA
(posthumous to rescue effort) |
| Larsen,
Billy |
2003 |
Pismo Beach, CA |
| Milligan,
Joe |
1989 |
California
State Parks, CA |
| Murphy,
Timothy |
1996 |
California
State Parks, CA |
| Nothhelfer,
James W. |
2009 |
California
State Parks, CA |
| Panis,
Marc |
1989 |
Huntington
Beach, CA |
| Pepper,
Laine |
1999 |
San
Diego, CA |
| Quigley,
Patrick |
1998 |
Laguna
Beach, CA |
| Quigley,
Patrick |
1999 |
San
Diego, CA
(this is his second award)
|
| Raines,
Dave |
1999 |
San
Diego, CA
|
| Snow,
Kevin |
1998 |
Laguna
Beach, CA |
| Sproull,
Mark |
1998 |
Laguna
Beach, CA |
| Stephenson,
Michael |
1996 |
California
State Parks, CA |
| Tegland,
Ormand |
1998 |
Laguna
Beach, CA |
| Trager,
Tom |
1998 |
Laguna
Beach, CA |
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