SEATAC, Wash. — A man sprang into action Wednesday afternoon to save a 13-year-old girl he spotted face-down near a dock in Angle Lake.
Witnesses told Kent fire officials the girl may have been under water for several minutes.
“I could see hair,” said post office worker Jason Queirilo, who was at the lake with his family. “I just kicked off my shoes and ran out there and she was floating face down.”
Other witnesses said she may have been there for several minutes.
Queirilo and another man hauled her back to shore, and he began performing CPR.
"CPR by citizens made the difference," Kent fire officials said.
Officials with Kent fire said the girl had a pulse when they arrived; she was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.
“He knew what he was doing while we the family were panicked,” said a cousin of the girl, who was there with her as part of a church group. “He basically saved her.”
Queirilo said he was just doing his best to remember CPR from high school and would hope someone would do the same for his family if it is ever needed.
Fire officials say this is the second incident at Angle Lake within the last month. In May, a man jumped from a raft in the middle of the lake and drowned.
No lifeguards were on duty at the time of the incident. Kent fire officials say lifeguards will not be stationed there until July 1.