Pensacola Times

On Friday, March 3, the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, Escambia County Fire Rescue, and Escambia County Emergency Medical Services were honored by Santa Rosa County residents Don and Jackie Gross at the Pensacola Beach Public Safety facility.

During a quick presentation at the Pensacola Beach Public Safety building, the Gross family, joined by Jackie's daughter, Cindy, presented plaques to the individuals involved in saving the life of Mr. Gross.

On Oct. 8, 2022, the Gross family was enjoying Pensacola Beach when Mr. Gross began experiencing a medical emergency. The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards immediately sprang into action and began performing lifesaving maneuvers on Mr. Gross with the use of an automated external defibrillator and CPR. As the events unfolded, lifeguards and EMS were able to resuscitate Mr. Gross and transport him to the hospital via LifeFlight.

“We are very thankful for the recognition from the Gross family," said District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender. "This is a reflection of the hard work our Public Safety personnel put in for residents and visitors every day. I am grateful for our team and that Mr. Gross and his family were able to celebrate with us today.”

During the presentation, Mr. and Mrs. Gross had the opportunity to speak with those involved in the rescue and thank them personally. They also brought a personalized cake for attendees to enjoy as a token of their appreciation.

"I'm happy we were able to provide our services to someone that was truly in need of the medical attention," said Water Safety Chief Dave Greenwood. "Thankfully, the individuals were located near one of our lifeguard-occupied towers, which enabled us to respond in a timely manner. It's great to receive the recognition and appreciation from a member of the public that we serve."

Additionally, four Pensacola Beach lifeguards were recently recognized by the American Heart Association for their role in the medical emergency rescue. 

Escambia County Public Safety is responsible for keeping citizens safe from emergencies and both man-made and natural disasters. Its divisions include Emergency Communications, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Rescue and Pensacola Beach Lifeguards. For the latest information on emergency management services in Escambia County, residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts on MyEscambia.com.

Don Gross with the Pensacola Lifeguards and ECFR Firefighter

Plaques presented to first responders from the Gross family

Original source can be found here.