Teen Angels: Brother, Sister Lifesaving Duo Share Story of Heroic Rescue

SOUTHOLD, NY — A normal day lifeguarding at Founders Landing Beach in Southold usually involves nothing more serious than fending off a few jellyfish, said Sean Tuthill, 16.

But all that changed on Wednesday when Sean, and his sister Meg, 18, found themselves in a life-or-death situation after they helped to save the life of an elderly man who'd been snorkeling.

According to Southold Town Police, a call came in at 12:50 from Founders Landing Beach, located on Terry Lane, about a possible drowning.

Sean said he was at the lifeguard station and saw the man snorkeling. He glanced over to check on some children and, when he looked back, was alarmed when he could no longer see the man's flippers; both his head and snorkel were underwater. "I could only see his swim shirt," he said.

Sean sprang into action, racing to the water and dragging the man to shore, where he was met by Meg, who put on her CPR mask.

"He wasn't breathing," Meg said. "It was scary."

The pair began initiating CPR on the beach; it was the first time, both agreed, that they've ever been in a rescue situation since becoming lifeguards two years ago.

All of a sudden, Sean said, "There was a swarm of people" at the shoreline, including Joseph Janketic and Donna McCabe, who assisted the lifeguards in performing CPR on the unconscious victim, until the arrival of fire department EMTs and police.

When asked what they were thinking when faced with the unthinkable, Meg said, "Not a lot." They were focused solely on saving the man's life, and acting purely on adrenaline.

"Instinct kicked in," Meg said.

"We were doing what we were trained to do," Sean said.

Both teens said they had "a lot of help," with Southold Fire Department Rescue arriving on scene immediately, as well as Southold Police units and the Stony Brook University Hospital first responder unit.

"We heard the sirens as soon as we began CPR," Meg said.

After a short period of time, a pulse was restored and the patient began to breathe on his own, police said.

The pair weren't sure at first if the man had survived. "We didn't know," Meg said.

They were relieved later to learn that he had, in fact, lived; he was taken to Eastern Long Island Hospital for further treatment.

To other lifeguards faced with the same situation, Sean and Meg, who also lifeguard at Breakwater Beach and Veterans Beach in Mattituck, said staying calm is key. "Don't panic," she said.

"If you freak out, other people will freak out," Sean said.

Sean attends Bishop-McGann Mercy High School; Meg graduated from the school this year and is heading to college.

When asked what career she'd like to pursue, she said she's considering studying to be a physician's assistant.