topside Volume 119 , Issue 1 rescue team in running approximately
two miles down the beach to arrive on scene . d . Realizing that no helicopters were able to fly in the on-scene conditions and the two MLBs were unable to assist , BM1 Qual donned the swimmer ' s harness and mask and made preparations to enter the water . The low visibility and rapid drift prevented BM1 Qual from reaching the master on his first rescue attempt . He returned to shore and instructed the team to move further down the beach and once again , BM1 Qual entered the water . Battling the high surf , wind driven sand , ash and smoke , and hurricane force wind gusts , BM1 Qual finally succeeded in reaching the master . The beach rescue team was then able to pull BM1 Qual , with the master in tow , to shore using the swimmer tending line . e . During the rescue , BM1 Qual placed his own life in grave danger on two occasions in the process of rescuing the master of FV LEGEND . His actions in the early morning hours of September 8th , 2020 , were nothing short of heroic .
3 . SILVER MEDAL . a . On August 8th , 2020 , Auxiliarists Gary and Shelley Markle were returning to their slip on their Personal Water Crafts ( PWC ) at Burnham Harbor in Chicago , Illinois . During the transit , they were notified by a Good Samaritan of a possible drowning from the vessel ICEMAN II . While Auxiliarist Gary Markle notified Coast Guard Station Chicago , Auxiliarist Shelley Markle set up a safety perimeter to keep other boats clear of the incident location . b . Swimmers in the vicinity spotted a man on the lake bottom in 12 feet of water . Auxiliarist Gary Markle notified Station Chicago where the survivor was located and requested medical assistance . As the swimmers struggled with retrieving the drowned swimmer , Auxiliarist Gary Markle dismounted his PWC to assist in bringing the survivor aboard ICEMAN II . Auxiliarist Shelley Markle notified Station Chicago that the swimmer was being brought to the surface , was unresponsive , and again requested medical personnel and immediate assistance . c . While still in the water , Auxiliarist Gary Markle advised the other swimmers on how to push water from the lungs of the unresponsive drowned swimmer . Observing that the drowned swimmer was not breathing , and the other swimmers were panicked and improvising chest compressions , he requested the assistance of Auxiliarist Shelley Markle . Auxiliarist Shelley Markle dismounted her PWC , and swam and boarded ICEMAN II where she immediately took control of the situation . Auxiliarist Shelley Markle quickly cleared the area , directed another bystander to stabilize the survivors head and began CPR while instructing the other passengers to don life jackets . Realizing she would need assistance due to the anticipated duration of time for EMS to arrive , Auxiliarist Shelley Markle requested a volunteer and instructed him on how to perform chest compressions . While the two traded-off chest compressions , she repeatedly directed passengers , who appeared to be in shock , to don life jackets , and move ICEMAN II closer to shore . d . As Auxiliarist Shelley Markle initiated CPR and handled the management of panicked passengers , Auxiliarist Gary Markle boarded one of the PWCs and began transporting Chicago Fire Department personnel and paramedics from land to the ICEMAN II as it slowly transitioned towards shore . When these rescue personnel eventually relieved Auxiliarist Shelley Markle from CPR duties , she continued to assist with counseling and managing the passengers aboard ICEMAN II . e . A Chicago Fire Boat along with multiple Coast Guard and Chicago Police Marine unit vessels arrived , took over