Golfers Help Drowning Victim at Oxford Greens

Two men playing golf at Oxford Greens jumped a roughly eight-foot-high vinyl fence and rescued a senior citizen who appeared to be drowning in an outdoor pool Tuesday.

The golfers, whose names could not be confirmed, jumped into the water and pulled Dr. Thomas Brackett, 78, to land after hearing his wife’s screams for help, police said.

Brackett was unresponsive but breathing when Oxford Ambulance arrived, but was speaking by the time he was brought to Saint Mary’s Hospital, said Madalene Taggart, assistant director of the Oxford Ambulance Association.

She said she is not sure whether the incident is a drowning or caused by another medical condition.

Saint Mary’s Hospital did not have Brackett listed as a patient as of midday Thursday. It was unclear whether he was discharged. A message was left at his home on Thursday.

Taggart said she is pleased that citizens took action to help.

“Not everybody does, so that was nice to see,” she said. 

Resident Trooper Sgt. Dan Semosky said EMTs also did a great job.

Brackett lives on Dog Leg Court in The Village at Oxford Greens, a 55-and-older development, that is well known in the area. He served as a medical doctor and instructor of doctor residence until his retirement from Saint Mary’s Hospital. 

The incident leads to a question about whether the Oxford Greens’ community should have a lifeguard on duty at its two pools, one indoor and one outdoor, at the Ridge Club community meeting center. Most pools, which are open to Oxford Greens’ residents only, have signs that say swim at your own risk because no lifeguard is on duty.

Anthony Urso, president of the Board of Directors at the Village at Oxford Greens, said he does not believe the board will consider having lifeguards at the pool.

“We have it posted that nobody should go in the pool by themselves, and at the front desk they have monitoring cameras of all the places in the facility, including the pools and exercise areas,” he said, adding this is the first time a situation like this has happened in an Oxford Greens.

“He is a resident here and we certainly hope he returns to health very quickly,” Urso said.