Community rallies
for Marine
who saved teen
Family members of a 16-year-old boy say they will never forget the bravery of Marine Cpl. Quentin Gwynn who lost his backpack and wallet to thieves as he saved the teen from drowning at Waimea Bay on Monday.
"Not only did he save my brother's life, but he saved my family's life," said Matt Savage, brother of the teenager, Pat Savage. "I'm thankful he was there at the right time and right place, and was able to use what he knew to save the life of my only brother."
Pat Savage nearly died after he and his friends practiced diving in the water by the jumping rock Monday evening, according to firefighter Greg Ikeda.
"They were trying to hold their breath as long as they could to expand their lungs," Ikeda said. But Savage "basically had a shallow-water blackout."
Gwynn, 21, heard the cries for help while standing atop the jumping rock at Waimea Bay.
"There was a kid on the rocks that said someone had drowned," Gwynn said. "I told everybody to get out of the way and I jumped down and helped pull the boy on the rocks."
Savage did not have a pulse, and he was not breathing, Gwynn said.
Gwynn gave the victim cardiopulmonary resuscitation until he got a pulse, and Savage started to breathe again.
Ikeda said Savage's lungs were 40 percent filled with water.
"Without his (Gwynn's) help, the boy might have died," Ikeda said.
Savage was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital and then transferred to the Queen's Medical Center, where he is reported in stable condition.
But while Gwynn was saving Savage's life, someone took his girlfriend's backpack from the beach. They lost credit cards, a video camera, cash, a motorcycle helmet, keys to a rental motorcycle, a military ID, a watch -- "everything we owned," he said.
The theft upset them, but "at least the kid's all right," he said.
Gwynn came to Hawaii on Sunday aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, which was returning from a mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii took Gwynn and his girlfriend back to their hotel and worked out deals so the couple can enjoy the rest of their time in Hawaii, said Rika Ikeda, president of the group.
The Ohana Waikiki Village hotel has covered their room, and they should be getting a rental Harley Davidson tomorrow to replace the motorcycle they could not use after their keys were stolen, Rika Ikeda said.
Those who wish to help Gwynn or make donations may contact the Visitor Aloha Society at 926-8274.
Gwynn and his girlfriend were exhausted Monday, but in pretty good spirits, Rika Ikeda said.
"They're in even better spirits today because everyone has given them so much support and aloha. They seemed happy," she said.
Matt Savage said his family deeply sympathized with Gwynn's loss, but hopes he knows "how very, very grateful we are to him" for saving Pat Savage.
"We're so thankful to Quentin for his presence, his help and everything that he did," Matt Savage said. "Everything looks like it'll be just fine now, like a full recovery."