How to save a life

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik R. Conatser, an information systems technician stationed aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, and former Petty Officer 2nd Class Ramu Linsky, take a photo with Chris Williams and his mother Sarah Williams after being presented with Silver Life Saving Medals during a ceremony aboard the Waesche at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Friday, March 18. Conatser and Linsky were given the medals in recognition of their rescue of Mr. Williams from the American River in Central California, August 15, 2009. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Caleb Critchfield.

A small crowd gathers in the hangar aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, a 418-foot cutter homeported in Alameda, Calif. Sarah Williams, a grateful mother, stands at the podium before the assembly gathered to witness the presentation of the Silver Lifesaving Medal.

Seated in the front row is Mrs. Williams’ 16-year-old son, Christopher Williams, a tall young man with shaggy black hair and a humble, yet appreciative expression on his face. Directly across from him sits Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik R. Conatser, an information systems technician stationed aboard the Waesche, and former Petty Officer 2nd class Ramu Linsky, an electricians mate who was also stationed aboard the Waesche.

“I have struggled for over a year to find the words to thank these two young men for what they did,” said Mrs. Williams. “I have since come to realize that nothing I could say would ever be enough and I will never stop thanking them for saving the life of my son.”

On August 15, 2009, a then 15-year-old Williams had come to the American River in Central California with his church youth group. While waiting for a raft, several members of the group began jumping from a bridge forty feet above the rapid water. After some encouragement from his friends, Williams jumped into the river from the high bridge with no life jacket.

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Sarah Williams offers an emotional thank you to Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Conatser, an information systems technician stationed aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, and former Petty Officer Ramu Linsky, for the rescue of her son, Chris Williams, during a Silver Life Saving Medal award ceremony held aboard the Waesche at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Friday, March 18. Conatser and Linsky were presented with Silver Life Saving Medals for their rescue of Mr. Williams from the American River in Central California, August 15, 2009. "It isn't fate, it wasn't luck, it was a choice that sent these two men after my son. That choice that they made so instinctively is what makes them heroes," said Williams. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Caleb Critchfield.

“You know that expression, ‘if all your friends jumped off a bridge would you do it too?’ Well, my parents never used that on me before and I guess now we know the answer,” said Williams.

After Williams hit the water he said he didn’t immediately know he was in danger. Williams remembers how he kept getting pulled down and had to struggle to get back up. After struggling for a short while he realized he needed help and started shouting.

Conatser and Linsky had come to the river with some friends while on leave. They were waiting on shore for a raft and had actually seen Williams jump into the river.

“We saw him go into the water after some of the other kids. He came up flailing then we heard him calling for help,” said Conatser, “We went into the water and swam about 300 yards but we lost sight of him.”

Linsky soon said he felt Williams bump into his legs and immediately reached down to grab hold of the young man. According to Conatser, a raft had paddled out into the river by that time and both Conatser and Linsky were able to pull Williams up onto the raft.

“He was a pale blue when we got him onto the raft,” said Conatser. “We checked his vitals and couldn’t a find a pulse, Ramu started chest compressions and I did rescue breathing. We did about three sets of breaths and compressions before we were able to detect a faint pulse and hear Williams breathing again.”
Conatser and Linsky continued compressions until Williams’ pulse was stronger and when his body began shaking they turned him over on his side to let the fluid in his body drain out.

Conatser said that Williams’ eyes were open and his color had come back but he didn’t seem to be able to talk. By the time they got back to shore Conatser and Linsky said they could hear the rescue chopper overhead.

The two Coast Guardsmen sat with Williams on the shore, talking to him and asking him questions until the emergency medical technicians arrived and put him on the chopper.

Williams was airlifted to UC Davis hospital in Sacramento, Calif., where he spent the night before being released by doctors the following day.

“I don’t really remember much,” said Williams. “I don’t remember being pulled out of the water or sitting on the shore with the two men who saved me.”

The heroic efforts of Conatser and Linsky were honored at a ceremony held aboard the Waesche Friday, March 18, 2011, where Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, commander Pacific Area, presented them both with the Silver Lifesaving Medal.

“I will tell both of you gentlemen, what you did was distinctive and unique,” said Brown. “It was heroic, and I do not believe most folks would have done what you did.”

Despite the recognition, Linsky and Conatser have maintained a humble and respectful attitude toward their actions.

“I don’t feel like a hero,” said Conatser. “I just did what I think, what I hope, anyone would have done. The real reward is seeing Chris Williams alive and well and with his family.”

The Silver Life Saving Medal is one of the oldest medals in the United States established by an act of congress in June 1874. The Lifesaving Medal is awarded to any member of the U.S. Military or to a U.S. citizen who rescues or attempts to rescue any other person from drowning, shipwreck or any other perils of water. The Silver Life Saving Medal is surpassed only by the Gold Lifesaving Medal awarded to those who attempted a rescue despite extreme danger to their own life.

The ceremony was brought to a close by a few last words of thanks from Mrs. Williams.

"It isn't fate. It wasn't luck. It was a choice that sent these two men after my son. That choice that they made so instinctively is what makes them heroes.”

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, commander Coast Guard Pacific Area, shakes hands with former former Petty Officer 2nd Class Ramu Linsky after presenting him with a Silver Life Saving Medal in a ceremony aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Friday, March 18. Linsky, formerly stationed abroad the Waesche, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik R. Conatser, an information systems technician stationed aboard the Waesche, were recognized for their rescue of Chris Williams from the American River in Central California August 15, 2009. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Caleb Critchfield.

ALAMEDA, Calif. - Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, commander Coast Guard Pacific Area, presents Petty Officer Second Class Erik R. Conatser with a Silver Life Saving Medal in a ceremony aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Friday, March 18. Conatser, an information systems technician stationed aboard the Waesche, received the award in recognition of his and former Petty Officer 2nd Class Ramu Linsky's rescue of Chris Williams from the American River in Central California August 15, 2009. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Caleb Critchfield.

~CC 03/04/11