LAKE CUMBERLAND, Ky. (WDKY) — A trip to Lake Cumberland quickly turned into a life-or-death situation on July 12, but an off-duty firefighter was able to save the day.
On Thursday, the Anchorage Middletown Fire & EMS celebrated firefighter and EMT Keegan Bolt for stepping up while he was off duty.
The fire department said Bolt was on a family houseboat trip at Lake Cumberland when he noticed a medical emergency happening in the water.
The unidentified person was a heart attack survivor with a known cardiac condition who became distressed after a quick change in temperature triggered a circulatory failure, causing a near-drowning incident.
Bolt reportedly jumped into action, securing the patient from behind and bringing them back to the surface.
“Thanks to Keegan’s quick thinking, advanced training, and courageous instinct, the individual made a full recovery and is alive today. The family involved has expressed deep and lasting gratitude for Keegan’s actions, recognizing that his presence and intervention made the difference between life and death,” the department wrote on Facebook.