Teacher and students honored for saving student
Published: August 14, 2007
Smiling for the cameras at the Fayette County commissioners meeting Thursday, a Uniontown Area High School teacher and student were recognized for saving another student from drowning in the school pool.
“If it wasn’t for Rusty, I probably would have drowned,” said Marco DeShields, 18, a recent graduate of Uniontown Area High School. “I thank God that they were there and hope this award lets them know how much they have helped me.”
Rusty Kemp, 17, a junior at Uniontown, and John Oleynik, an aquatic teacher at the school, were each recognized with an Outstanding Citizens Award for their heroism and the unselfish act of saving Marco DeShields from drowning on May 11 in the high school pool.
“We are very happy with the way the situation was handled,” said Uniontown Principal Thomas Colebank.
Kemp and DeShields were diving off the diving boards after their first-period class. Kemp dove in first.
DeShields’ legs gave out when he was trying to do a tricky backflip into the water, Kemp said. He hit his head on the diving board and his body fell into the water.
“I was swimming in the pool and I saw DeShields come up face down on the surface of the water,” Kemp said.
Kemp screamed to Oleynik for help, then flipped DeShields’ unconscious body onto his back and pulled him to the edge of the pool.
Oleynik came over and they stabilized him on a spike board to avoid a possible neck injury.
Oleynik hit the emergency buzzer by the pool to contact authorities.
“I had an adrenaline rush and felt no emotion until DeShields was in the ambulance,” Kemp said. “Then I felt really sad.”
DeShields was in the ambulance for no more than 8 minutes, Oleynik said.
DeShields said he has no memory of the accident.
He suffered a torn ligament, sprained neck and a severe concussion, said his mother, Jeanine Hurt.
DeShields said he only remembers waking up in the hospital and his mom telling him what happened.
“When my mom told me they saved my life, I cried and cried,” DeShields said.
The Boy Scouts prepared Kemp for the emergency situation, Hurt said.
Kemp is a Life Scout. The final stage in Boy Scouts is to become an Eagle Scout, and he plans to make that transition soon.
The National Boy Scouts Association will also recognize Kemp with a medal.
Drowning is the second-highest cause for accidental death in persons under 24 years old in the nation, after motor vehicle accidents, said Lori Maruschak, aquatic director at Scottdale Community Pool in Scottdale.
Now Kemp and DeShields hang out as much as possible, Kemp said.
DeShields graduated from high school this month and will begin training to be a Marine. He plans to keep in touch with Kemp and Oleynik while he’s training.
“When someone saves your life, they’re your friend for life no matter what,” DeShields said.
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