Recently, Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) Ocean Lifeguard Specialists (OLS) Ruben Cormona, Shuan Gudmundsson, and Jon Van Duinwyk each received the distinguished Medal of Valor at the Lifeguard Medal of Valor award ceremony in July, for going above and beyond while providing life saving services. On Tuesday, August 13, 2019, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recognized their courageous efforts at the weekly Board meeting.
The Supervisors presented a recognition scroll to each award recipient and thanked them for their commitment to saving lives in Los Angeles County. Fire Chief Daryl Osby and members of the executive team were grateful the Department was honored for its devoted team members.
“I am proud to have the honor to say that the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Lifeguards are amazing. It is the individuals that work for the Department that makes it the premier organization,” said Chief Osby. “Thank you Board members for this acknowledgment.”
The scroll presentation featured two videos of the following incidents that earned the dedicated OLS the Medal of Valor. In 2018, OLS Carmona and Gudmundsson worked together to rescue two trapped victims from a remote and rocky ledge during high tide in Rancho Palos Verdes. That same year, OLS Van Duinwyk rescued a victim trapped inside a sailboat off Dockweiler Beach, moments before the boat crashed and was completely destroyed on shore.
To view the videos, visit https://www.instagram.com/lacolifeguards/.
