On Tuesday, August 14, during the Town of Islip’s board meeting at Town Hall, several lifeguards were recognized for their heroic actions since the start of summer. They were praised for their swift responses in life-threatening emergencies—a testament to their rigorous training, quick thinking under pressure, and extraordinary bravery.
Over the Fourth of July weekend—one of the busiest times of the year on the water—four lifeguards rescued a 57-year-old woman in distress off the Fourth East walk near Kismet Lighthouse. Caught in a rip current and struggling to stay afloat, she was pulled to safety thanks to the relentless efforts and strong swimming skills of the responding team.
Stephen Crusher Jr., Ryan Cornell, John Kaplan, and first aid responder Peter LaCour played key roles in the rescue. Acting quickly, they stabilized the woman, provided oxygen, and monitored her on scene until additional emergency services arrived. Their professionalism, teamwork, and composure under pressure were truly admirable.
“Time is critical,” said Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip). “These lifeguards prevented what easily could have been a serious outcome.”
Just one day later, on July 5, another emergency struck—this time involving a father and his daughter. Lifeguards Connor Lambert, Andrew Mills, and Jack Tegarden immediately jumped into action. Working seamlessly as a team, they navigated the challenging situation and successfully brought both victims to safety.
Unfortunately—and fortunately—a third life-saving incident occurred on August 3 in Fire Island. Wally Smith, 65, collapsed on the beach, prompting an immediate response from lifeguards Ron Ross, Abigail Claps, Evan Byrnes, Tristan Weingarten, Mary Kaplan, and Steven Hourigan. Each played a vital role, coordinating their efforts to give Wally the best chance of survival. Wally was airlifted to Stony Brook Hospital, where doctors revealed that the survival rate for this medical emergency was just 6%. Against the odds, Wally made a full recovery and was discharged, later returning to thank the lifeguards who helped save their life personally.
“These are the moments that remind us how vital this role is to the safety of our residents and visitors,” Carpenter added. “Their commitment to their duty and ability to act under pressure is nothing short of remarkable.”
Lifeguards face the harsh realities of their job far more often than anyone would hope. Day after day, they work tirelessly to protect and safeguard every beach visitor. With unwavering dedication, skill, and courage, they are willing to risk their own lives to save others. Their message to the public is straightforward: be safe, respect the water, and always heed the lifeguards on duty.
