Seattle lake rescue: UC Davis athlete saves three girls

A Seattle lake rescue at Lake Washington turned dramatic during Seafair Weekend after UC Davis water polo player Lillie Vehling jumped in and helped save three girls who were struggling in deeper water. Vehling, who was in Seattle on July 31 to watch the Blue Angels aerial performance, said she noticed the girls near the buoy lane and realized quickly that they were in serious trouble.

Vehling told Fox 13 Seattle that the girls were far from shore and did not look well. She said they were bobbing up and down trying to breathe, and that one girl was forcing the others under in her effort to stay afloat. Using the instincts and experience she said she developed as a former lifeguard, Vehling entered the water and brought the first girl back to shallower water before returning for the others.

She then pulled the second girl to safety and went back for the third, who by then was barely visible above the surface. Vehling said the final swimmer appeared unconscious and had her leg tangled in a buoy rope, which made the rescue more urgent. She lifted the girl’s head above the water and held her under the arm while getting her out of the lake. Once on land, the girl regained consciousness and coughed up water.

By the time help arrived, bystanders at Genesee Park and Playfield had called 911. One of the girls was taken to Seattle Children’s Hospital in stable condition, KOMO News reported. Vehling said her response was immediate and that she never hesitated before going in. Her father is a retired captain with the Los Angeles Fire Department, and she said the rescue came down to instinct and the need to act fast.