Coast Guard Officer Who Saved Life of Boy in La Mesa Area to be Honored

A San Diego-based Coast Guardsman who rescued a drowning child at a Fourth of July party will be honored Monday in a ceremony at the Coast Guard's boat house at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

Petty Officer Matthew Garrison, a San Diego native, pulled a motionless young boy from a swimming pool while attending the event near La Mesa July 3, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Garrison, a Maritime Enforcement Specialist, started CPR on the boy and called over another person to assist. The child began to breathe on his own after two sets of chest compressions and three sets of rescue breaths, officials said.

Garrison then monitored the boy until emergency personnel arrived.

"I am extremely proud of Petty Officer Garrison," said Cmdr. Eric Cooper, commanding officer of Maritime Safety and Security Team San Diego. "Coast Guard members are consistently training to be proficient in all aspects of our job. July 3, that proficiency and dedication to duty paid off saving the life of a young child."

Garrison has been stationed at Maritime Safety and Security Team San Diego for the past year. He joined the Coast Guard Reserve in 2005, then moved to active duty.

– City News Service