Tortosa Mother Hails Copper Sky Teen Lifeguard for Heroic Rescue of Her Baby

On Saturday, Natalie Davis brought her four children to the Copper Sky Aquatic Center, where a dramatic rescue took place involving a local lifeguard.

Davis, a resident of Tortosa, spent the day at the community pool with her kids aged 16, 9, 7, and 5, as they enjoyed the warm weather. While she kept an eye on her youngest, the older kids explored the lazy river with friends.

After a few hours, her 9-year-old daughter, Jude, requested to remove her puddle jumpers. Davis initially hesitated but ultimately trusted Jude’s abilities to stay safe in designated areas.

However, Jude’s friend accidentally pulled her into a deeper section of the pool where she could not touch the bottom. Fortunately, 16-year-old lifeguard Davian Herrera was vigilant and quickly jumped into action.

Davis recounted the incident, stating, “The lifeguard noticed that she was bobbing in and out, and he immediately jumped in and pulled her out. He said she had sucked in a ton of water and was gasping and choking when he pulled her out.”

City spokesperson Monica Williams confirmed that Jude was approximately four feet from the nearest wall. Herrera and other lifeguards assessed her condition in the office before returning her to her mother.

Davis expressed immense gratitude for Herrera’s quick response, especially given the busy environment that day. “He could have easily missed her among all the kids,” she remarked.

Herrera, who had also performed a similar rescue on May 16, expressed his appreciation for being acknowledged for his service. “I’m very grateful to be recognized for serving the community and ensuring people’s safety at the pool,” he said.

Williams added, “We are proud of how Davian handled the situation. Our lifeguards are trained to respond in moments like this, and we’re thankful for the dedication they show every day to keep our aquatic center guests safe.”