A Florida electric cooperative equipment operator was among a trio of lifesavers, which included a Florida State University football player, honored recently by the Citrus County sheriff for saving a man’s life during a dramatic Father’s Day water rescue.
Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative’s Seth Greco, FSU offensive lineman Jayden Todd and Citrus County Sheriff’s Deputy Robbie Crosnoe received the agency’s Life Saving Medal during a July 7 ceremony for their “quick thinking, courage and decisive actions.”
“I was just in the right place at the right time,” Greco said after the ceremony. “I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I hadn’t helped.”
Greco, his younger brother and father were on a fishing trip near the Chassahowitzka River before heading toward Homosassa for lunch. As they neared the mouth of the Homosassa River, they saw Crosnoe hoisting an unconscious man on a boat before performing CPR. The sheriff patrol boat was nearby, and the victim’s family were in their vessel, waving for help.
“I told my dad, ‘Hey, we can’t let this guy do CPR by himself,’” Greco said. “‘That needs more than one person.’ I just had to jump in the water real quick and get onto their boat.”
The Greco family had the skills to help. The son of a Tampa firefighter and a former firefighter and EMT himself, Greco maneuvered his boat closer to the sheriff. He jumped into the water, swam to the boat and began to assist with CPR and an automated external defibrillator.
“The guy was in bad shape,” Greco said. “His face had turned purple.”
Greco and Crosnoe restored the man’s pulse and transferred the victim onto the patrol boat. Greco continued providing CPR and monitoring his condition, while Crosnoe navigated the nearly 15-minute trip back to shore at Riverhaven Marina.
“I told the deputy, ‘I’ve got him covered. Just get him to shore,’” Greco said.
During the trip, he said the victim partially regained consciousness and was able to say his name but remained disoriented.
Todd’s role in the rescue came before Greco’s arrival. The football player and friends were in another boat nearby when they saw the man unresponsive in the water. Todd jumped in and helped pull the victim back on his boat.
Once Crosnoe and Greco got to shore, the victim, Michael Hoffmann, was transported to a nearby hospital and learned that he’d suffered a heart attack while swimming. According to reports from the Citrus County Sheriff, the successful rescue was the result of multiple people acting swiftly “at exactly the right moment,” said Gary Steele, manager of member relations at the Dade City-based co-op.
Greco and Hoffmann met during the awards ceremony. “It was awesome,” Greco said. “I’m so glad that it had a great outcome.”
Greco’s willingness to literally jump into action showcases the commitment of WREC employees to “serving others both on and off the job,” said WREC Executive Vice President and General Manager David Lambert. “His willingness to act without hesitation, combined with his training and experience, helped save a life. We couldn’t be prouder of Seth and the example he sets for all of us.”
Victoria A. Rocha is a staff writer for NRECA.