LCSD Deputy Awarded for Heroism

On a summer day last year, Deputy Nicholas "Nick" Burt took his life in his own hands to try and help save the life of another.

Tonight, Woodmen of the World will present the organization’s Life Saving Award to Burt during an awards banquet that the organization will conduct at 7 p.m. at 3620 Augusta Road in West Columbia.

Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said Burt will receive the award in recognition of "his quick and courageous actions" on Sept. 9, 2011, when Burt rescued a man from a motor vehicle that was submerged in a swimming pool at a home near West Columbia. 

On Sept. 9, Burt responded within three minutes to a call concerning the motor vehicle that was submerged in the residential swimming pool, Metts said. Burt found that the male driver of the vehicle was still in the vehicle, which was completely submerged in the pool.

Burt removed his police equipment, jumped in the pool and swam to the vehicle, Metts said. Burt and a female passerby opened the driver’s side door of the vehicle. Burt used a pocket knife to cut the seat belt loose from the male driver and pulled the man to the pool deck, where Lexington County Emergency Medical Services personnel began efforts to resuscitate the man.

Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the man by ambulance to Lexington Medical Center, where the man was placed on life-support equipment, Metts said. The man died on Sept. 11 after he was disconnected from the life-support equipment.

"Nick acted heroically by placing himself at great risk of serious bodily injury or death in order to try to save the male driver’s life," Metts said. "Nick took actions that went well beyond the call of duty."

Burt, 27, of Lexington, serves as a field training officer on a road patrol shift in the North Region Patrol District, which is based near Irmo. Metts hired Burt on March 22, 2010.