With all of the negative news lately here’s a reminder of something wonderful that happened recently in Everett, Washington. This press release comes from the Everett Fire Department.
On Wednesday, August 20, Everett Fire Chief Dave DeMarco honored five community members with the Citizen Life-Saving Award during the Everett City Council meeting. This recognition was for their heroic actions in rescuing an 11-year-old child from a near-drowning incident at Silver Lake on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
The Citizen Life-Saving Award is presented to individuals outside the fire department who participate in life-saving efforts at emergency scenes prior to the arrival of fire or EMS personnel.
Chief DeMarco had the honor to deliver a heartfelt presentation, acknowledging the bravery of these rescuers. Although the victim and their family attended the meeting, they were not named out of respect for their privacy. The last names of the rescuers have also been withheld, except for 13-year-old Gauge Bryant, whose identity was shared with the consent of his parents the day after the rescue.
“On July 8, 2025, what began as a typical summer afternoon at Silver Lake (Thornton A. Sullivan Park) quickly transformed into an emergency, uniting individuals from all walks of life for a single purpose: to save a life.
Helia, who unfortunately was unable to attend tonight, was at the end of the Silver Lake dock with her children as they played in the water when she realized a child who had gone into the water nearby had not resurfaced. Initially thinking he was swimming and playing with another child underwater, Helia soon became concerned when he didn’t resurface and asked those around her to check under the dock. Simultaneously, the 11-year-old boy’s mother also recognized that her son was missing and was looking for him.
Thirteen-year-old Gauge Bryant was swimming nearby when he learned a child was missing. Without hesitation, he dove beneath the water to search for the boy. After initially not seeing anyone underwater, he borrowed a pair of goggles and dove again. It was then that he spotted the victim underwater, beneath the dock. With sheer determination, Gauge dove down again and wrapped his arms around the victim to bring him to the surface. Despite challenges in the rescue, his perseverance paid off, and he successfully brought the boy to the surface, where others were able to lift him onto the dock.
Within moments, a group of friends enjoying their day at Silver Lake heard cries for help. Among them were Pam, Jennifer, and Jacqueline, all of whom are emergency room nurses. Rushing to the dock with several other community members, whose identities are unknown, immediately began CPR.
The Everett Fire Department arrived within minutes of the dispatch. Thanks to the quick response of these brave rescuers, firefighters found that the child was breathing and had regained a pulse after being underwater for several minutes. By the time he was placed in the ambulance, the victim had regained some level of consciousness.
After spending several days in the hospital, we are happy to report that the child has made a full recovery.
While none of the rescuers sought recognition for their acts of bravery, they are here today to raise awareness about the critical importance of water safety and the importance of learning life-saving skills, such as CPR.
The day after the incident, Gauge participated in multiple media interviews with grace and humility. He expressed concern about the recognition he was receiving while the child was still in the hospital recovering. His strong sense of duty drove him to emphasize that all he wanted was to meet the victim, ensure he was okay, and become his friend. Gauge also shared his aspiration to join the United States Air Force in the future, wishing to protect his country. Demonstrating his commitment to learning life-saving skills, we are happy to report that Gauge was certified in CPR and First Aid training today by Everett Fire.
The Everett Fire Department proudly recognizes the community members who played a crucial role in the successful outcome of this incident. Their quick and decisive actions during a time of crisis demonstrate the power of coming together. Today, we honor their bravery by presenting each rescuer with a Citizen Life-Saving Award. As our token of appreciation, they are receiving the Everett Fire Marine Team patch and challenge coin. Their quick thinking not only saved the child’s life but also reflects the importance of community during emergencies. On that day, all the right people were in the right place for an extraordinary outcome, one that led to survival.”
Resource links:
- CPR Classes
- Water Safety
- American Red Cross – Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers training course (free)
- American Red Cross – Water Safety Smarts, Swimming Skills, Helping Others
- American Red Cross – Water Safety for Kids, including Whale Tales lessons for kids.
- Washington State Parks Life Jacket Loaner Program (Find a life jacket loaner station near you.)