Teen lifeguard pulls woman from Paso Robles pool

Posted: Feb 20, 2012 11:30 PM by Ariel Wesler
Updated: Feb 21, 2012 8:06 AM

A Paso Robles teenager is being hailed as a hero after helping save a woman's life at the municipal pool last Thursday.

The woman was participating in an a water aerobics class for seniors when she had a medical emergency. The 17-year-old lifeguard on duty immediately came to her aid.

The word is out about 17-year-old Noah Erwin and his heroic act.

"One of the counselors at our school walked by and was like, 'Noah I heard you're a hero,' " Erwin said.

On Thursday afternoon, he was on lifeguard duty at the municipal pool in Paso Robles when one of the ladies in the water aerobics class had a seizure.

"They screamed at me, 'Noah!' he explained.

Erwin quickly sprang into action.

"I take off my shoes and jump in," he said. The lady, she was lying face down. I had one lady grab her arms and torso and I'm grabbing her butt and legs and we pull her [out] "

Erwin demonstrated how they put her in the rescue position until paramedics arrived. He says she was unconscious the entire time.

"At first I was really scared because her breathing was really light and quick," Erwin said. "I was scared for her losing her life. I was really nervous."

The high school water polo player had basic life guard training from working summers at the water park in town, but never expected to use his skills.

"One of my friends wanted me to fill his shifts, so I filled his shifts and I ended up get attached to these old ladies and it's really awesome," he said.

This humble hero hopes he'll never have to call on his those skills again, but says he'll be ready.

"I feel like next time, I'll be perfectly suited for this type of situation."

When Erwin isn't in the water, he's pretty strong in the classroom. He's a senior a Paso Robles High School with a 4.1 GPA.

He says he's interested in becoming a civil engineer and would like to attend Cal Poly or the Colorado School of Mines.

As for the woman, Erwin says her son is taking care of her and she returned home from the hospital last Friday.