Suffolk, Va. – Lieutenant Taz Lancaster, a Suffolk firefighter, saved a drowning man while on vacation in North Carolina.
In August of 2015, Lancaster began swimming before realizing that his phone was still in his pocket. While swimming back to shore to return the phone, he noticed an abandoned surfboard and a body floating next to it.
The body belonged to a 40-year-old man who said he hit his head on the surfboard and felt paralyzed. Lancaster’s 17 years with Suffolk Fire & Rescue helped him to safely bring the man to shore.
“This was just like another day on the job,” said Lancaster. “I was glad to be able to help out as someone else might not have known how to handle the situation without causing more damage to the victim.”
Due to the nature of the man’s injury, Lancaster transported the man to shore using the surfboard as a backboard. Once back on shore, the victim was stabilized and airlifted to the nearest hospital. The man is expected to make a full recovery.
Cedric Scott, chief of Suffolk Fire & Rescue, expressed how proud he was of Lancaster.
“He is a shining example of the dedication, professionalism, and heroism displayed by the men and women of Suffolk Fire & Rescue. I applaud his lifesaving efforts and I am so happy that he was there in a time of need and that his actions saved a life.”
