Teenager Rescued Drowning, Elderly Man: Firefighters

EAST HAVEN, CT — A teenager pulled an elderly, unconscious man out of the water off Morgan Avenue Sunday, firefighters said.

In a Facebook post, East Haven firefighters said they responded to a reported drowning, but when they got there, the man had already been saved by a 15-year-old Davin Gamarella.

Firefighters explained what happened next: the man was having difficulty breathing so EMTs did their job and got him air, began an IV, and got him on a heart monitor. Medics placed the man in a "stokes basket and carried across the beach" to a waiting AMR ambulance.

"While loading patient in ambulance patient began coughing and regained consciousness," firefighters said. "The single action that made this call so successful was the heroics of that teenage boy. Kudos kid!"

Fire Chief Matt Marcarelli told Patch Garamella will receive a civilian award next week at the fire commissioners meeting. And, Garamella will be awarded with a Mayoral Proclamation.

Check back with Patch for updates.