Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette From left, Michigan Technological University aquatics manager Annie Bengry and lifeguards Brett Ceane, Leah Komarzec and Skyler Spitzley display their American Red Cross awards after a ceremony Tuesday. The lifeguards were honored for saving the life of a swimmer who experienced cardiac arrest at the pool last summer; Bengry also received an award as their instructor.

HOUGHTON — Three Michigan Technological University lifeguards received one of the American Red Cross’s highest honors Tuesday for a lifesaving rescue last summer.

Lifeguards Leah Komarzec, Skyler Spitzley and Brett Ceane were presented with the Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders at a ceremony at the Student Development Complex pool.

They were on duty at the pool on June 26, when Komarzec was notified of a swimmer having chest pains. She activated the pool’s emergency action plan and directed the swimmer towards an exit.

Spitzley radioed MTU Public Safety, while Ceane brought a backboard. Together, the lifeguards pulled the swimmer from the pool.

Komarzec called 911 and gathered the AED; at the same time, Spitzley and Ceane performed CPR.

Together with a public safety officer, Komarzec used the AED to deliver a shock to the victim’s heart. From there, Tech’s Emergency Management Services took over the response.

“That early intervention, without a doubt, saved this man’s life,” said Kathryn Halvorsen, executive director of the Red Cross Northcentral Region of Wisconsin.

At first the situation didn’t feel real, Spitzley said. But they delivered in a situation they’d trained for extensively.

“As a staff, we practice roleplaying in the sense of ‘Which scenario would you do if you’re in this position?'” she said. “On the day of the incident, all of our roles got tossed up in the air, and we each played to each other’s strengths. And we worked together and ultimately ended up saving his life.”

The Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders is one of the Red Cross’s highest awards, given to a person or people who save or sustain a life using skills learned in a Red Cross training course.

Annie Bengry, Tech’s aquatics manager, also received an instructor lapel pin and certificate for training the three lifeguards. She nominated the three lifeguards for their award.

While the victim, Rob Best, couldn’t attend Tuesday’s event, he provided a statement read at the ceremony. He’d heard the lifeguards were reluctant to receive an award for what they did; that humility is the sign of heroes, he said.

They displayed the humility again Tuesday after receiving the award.

“We’re all extremely grateful, but the award is just knowing that Rob is safe and alive,” Komarzec said.