Air Force Reservist saves critically injured teens after watercraft accident

  • Published
  • By Maj. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. --  An Air Force reservist from Patrick Air Force Base helped rescue two injured teens who crashed a personal watercraft into the dock behind his home here Jan. 4 at 2 p.m.

Senior Master Sgt. Steph Schwarz, a combat flight engineer with the 920th Rescue Wing, was the first on scene after the crash left a young man and woman in need of immediate medical care.

A spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said the young woman broke her pelvis and the young man broke multiple bones in his legs. Both teens underwent surgery and are expected to recover. The FWC has not released the names of the victims.

Schwarz said he was looking forward to watching the NFL playoffs that afternoon. Instead, he ended up being instrumental in saving two accident victims in his backyard.

"I heard a crash from outside that was loud enough to make me jump out of my chair," Schwarz said.

He didn't expect to see a young man lying in a pool of blood on top of his wooden boat dock. But with his 27 years of military experience and multiple combat deployments under his belt, he reacted swiftly. He rushed to the young man and asked if he was OK.

"'Help my girl,' was all he could say pointing at the salt water canal next to the dock," Schwarz said.

Schwarz then saw a woman floating face down in the canal that channeled off the Intercoastal River. At that point, Schwarz yelled for his 17-year-old son to call 911 as Schwarz jumped into the saltwater canal.

"I pulled her face out of the water," Schwarz said. "She was unconscious, so I woke her up. She started hyperventilating and looked like she saw a ghost."

The teens' uncle saw the whole thing from afar and rushed to the scene to help Schwarz hoist the girl onto the dock. Schwarz determined she was in shock and began comforting her, telling her everything was going to be okay.

"I didn't even see the Jet Ski until after I was in the water, and that's when it all came together for me," he said.

The watercraft was lodged underneath his dock, which bent the metal ladder attached to the dock and sent debris floating about the water.

Investigators believe the watercraft throttle got stuck, sending the two teens slamming into his dock and injuring them critically.

"The experience I have from being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and responding to victims of Hurricane Katrina definitely helped," Schwarz said.

Emergency workers arrived within five minutes and rushed both victims to the hospital. The man was transported by helicopter and the woman was transported by ground to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne.

Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th Rescue Wing commander, commended Schwarz for his actions.

"Sergeant Schwarz is a hero," Macrander said. "He exemplifies our Airmen's commitment to rescue whether at home or while deployed."

Schwarz said he doesn't consider himself a hero; he just wanted to do the right thing and is glad he was able to help.

"The important thing is they are both going to be okay," Schwarz said.