Lifeguards, Civilians Honored for Saving Lives

Centennial Park Aquatic Center lifeguards, a nurse, a pool patron and a podiatrist were acknowledged by the Orland Fire Protection District during Tuesday's board meeting, for their efforts to save a 16-year-old boy and a 3-year-old boy in different incidents.

Patrick Melaniphy, Lucas Fritsch, Rebecca Mallon, Christie Demas and Will Seidelmann, all staff at Centennial, as well as David Bornstein, a pool patron, were given the Battalion Chief William Bonnar, Sr. Citizen Life Saving Award for their roles in saving a 3-year-old boy from drowning at the pool on Aug. 8.

Read about how lifeguards and Bornstein helped save the child's life.

Sarah Kane, a pediatric nurse, and Brian Wittmayer, a podiatrist, were dining out at Houlihan's in Orland Park on July 7 when they saw that 16-year-old Nicholas Theilgaard started choking. The two performed CPR on him until emergency crews arrived. Theilgaard attended Tuesday's meeting, as Kane and Wittmater also were given the Bonnar award for their effort to help him.

Read more about how Kane and Wittmayer helped save Theilgaard.

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