552nd ACW Airman saves four swimmers

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lorraine Amaro and 2nd Lt. Kinder Blacke
  • 552nd Air Control Wing Public Affairs
An Airman from the 552nd Air Control Wing is lauded a hero after a short swim with some friends turned into a lifesaving venture over Columbus Day weekend.
   Senior Airman Chris Harlan, 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron, was on his way back from Kansas with two friends when they decided to stop at Turner Falls, a state park an hour south of Oklahoma City that boasts waterfalls leading into a swimming area.
   "We were about 15 yards away from where the incident happened. There were five of them who waded out and began to slip into the drop off by the falls," Senior Airman Harlan said. "They panicked and began to pull each other in."
   The group of men is foreign exchange students from India attending Oklahoma City University. According to the Davis Police Department, they were not strong swimmers.
   According to Airman Harlan, he and his two friends immediately jumped into action, diving into the drop off to reach the men who had sank to the bottom of the lake in their struggle. They were about ten feet below the surface by the time Airmen Harlan and his buddies could reach them.
   "They were panicking and pulling each other down. We had to get behind them and try to pull them up, the more they struggled, the harder it was to swim up," he said.
   Although Airman Harlan has had survival training, he has not been through a formal water rescue course and said he simply acted on instinct.
   "I wasn't surprised to hear about his split-second decision making," said Staff Sgt. Leonor Choi, his supervisor in the 965th AACS. "He is capable of reacting quickly in stressful situations."
   After pulling the first man to safety Airman Harlan urged an onlooker to call 911 before diving back in. After the fourth man was saved, they were informed a fifth man was still in the water. The men searched for the fifth victim until police arrived and they were removed from the scene.
   "We did everything within our means to get them all out of the water, it was just unfortunate we couldn't get the last man," said Airman Harlan.
   The body of the last victim, a 24-year-old Oklahoma City University student from India, was found about an hour after the incident by an Oklahoma Highway Patrol dive team, said Davis Police Chief Dan Cooper.
   Airman Harlan, who just returned from a four-month deployment, exhibits the characteristics of a truly exemplary Airman and is described by Staff Sgt. Choi as "a bright and caring individual."
   According to co-workers, Airman Harlan accepts the recognition with humble modesty, even after the media blitz and pats on the back.
   "He is a true hero and an inspiration to all," said Staff Sgt. Jason Malin, who has supervised Airman Harlan for three years.
   "And I'm not just saying that," he added, "he really is a great guy."