SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. — South Walton Fire District recently recognized four lifeguards and seven firefighters with Lifesaving Awards for their response to a cardiac arrest on the beach in Seaside on April 12, 2026.

The incident began when Full-Time Lifeguard Trent Mayr observed bystanders assisting an adult male to shore near his tower. Mayr entered the water and found the patient unresponsive and without a pulse. He upgraded the call to “CPR in Progress” and began resuscitation efforts with assistance from bystanders.

Full-Time Lifeguard Zac Morgan, Seasonal Lifeguard Alice Fleeman, and Beach Safety Officer Levi Rice arrived and joined Mayr in providing care. The team managed the patient’s airway, performed chest compressions, applied an automated external defibrillator (AED), and delivered shocks. They then applied a LUCAS mechanical CPR device and moved the patient off the beach.

Approximately 10 minutes after the initial water rescue, the patient was transferred to firefighters from South Walton Fire District Station 2 at the Coleman Pavilion.

Firefighters continued care and initiated additional Advanced Life Support interventions. Crews achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), meaning the patient regained a pulse. Eventually, the patient also began breathing on his own again.

In follow-up with the patient’s family and hospital staff, the District learned that he is expected to make a full recovery.

“Successful outcomes like this are the result of consistent training and strong coordination between our beach safety and fire crews,” said SWFD Fire Chief Ryan Crawford. “Cardiac arrest requires immediate intervention, and the responders on this incident recognized the problem, started treatment without delay, and continued delivering high-quality care all the way through transport.”

The district recognized the responding personnel with lifesaving challenge coins on April 30 in a private ceremony alongside the patient’s family and Seaside staff members. Additional recognition came at the South Walton Fire District’s Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting on May 11, in an effort to build advocacy between crews, district leadership, and Seaside.

Ultimately, this positive outcome was possible due to the partnership between SWFD and Seaside that supports lifeguard operations. The private-public agreement began between SWFD and Seaside in 2025, following discussions between the two entities about the critical need for enhancing beach safety after the closure of the Van Ness Butler Regional Beach Access in 2024.

“The closure unfortunately created a three-mile gap between our lifeguard towers in Seagrove Beach and Grayton Beach,” said SWFD Fire Chief Ryan Crawford. “Seaside stepped up to provide its residents and visitors with lifeguard protection, which allows us to more effectively prevent and respond to emergencies in an area with a historically high call volume. This call proves why that lifeguard tower matters for not just Seaside, but anyone within the vicinity of our care.”

Lifesaving Award Recipients include:

Lifeguards

• Full-Time Lifeguard Trent Mayr 
• Full-Time Lifeguard Zac Morgan 
• Seasonal Lifeguard Alice Fleeman 
• Beach Safety Officer Levi Rice 

Firefighters

• Sergeant/EMT Rob Hall 
• Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Baker 
• Firefighter/Paramedic Griffin Usher 
• Firefighter/Paramedic Tony Evans 
• Firefighter/Paramedic John Dowd 
• Firefighter/EMT David Shepherd 
• Firefighter/EMT Mike Mosley 

South Walton Fire District congratulates all award recipients and extends its best wishes to the patient and his family.