Lifeguards Save Norman Girl's Life

Lifeguards at Norman’s Westwood Water Park saved a 10-year-old girl’s life Saturday. 

The girl had just jumped off of the “high dive,” she landed awkwardly in 12-feet of water and lost consciousness. 

18-year-old Westwood Lifeguard Gavin Nadeau was first to get to the girl.

Once lifeguards got the girl out of the water, Norman Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jeff Hill said a staff member successfully performed CPR, before paramedics took the girl to a local hospital. 

Hill says she’s going to be okay. 

“I’m really proud, we have a great staff,” he said. 

Gavin Nadeau is a recent Norman High School graduate, who plans to enroll at OU in the fall. He said he and the other lifeguards were just doing their job. 

“Whenever you’re dealing with a situation like this, the adrenaline’s pumping, you know, once the job is completely done after, the emotions set in, because it does get very emotional, because you know you realize you just saved a life. It is a big deal,” he said. 

Hill said this is the first time something like this has happened at Westwood Water Park to his knowledge since 1994.  

A former OU swim coach opened the city-owned pool way back in 1967. 

Gail Richardson has been in charge of training Westwood lifeguards for the past two decades.

“I’m very proud they have acted the way they have been trained, and their response is how they should have responded,” she smiled poolside Monday afternoon.