Lifesavers honored by sheriff’s office. 

From left: Swygert, Kenney, Eskew, Dalrymple, Harrison, Cole, Herrema.

Lifesavers honored by sheriff’s office. 

#MasonCountyNews.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. 

LUDINGTON — Six people were honored by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office this morning for saving the life of a man at the Ludington State Park earlier this week. The incident occurred on Sunday, July 24 about 1:14 p.m., Sheriff Kim Cole said during a ceremony in front of the sheriff’s office.

Detectives Shayne Eskew and Mike Kenney were at the Ludington State Park investigating some vehicle breaking and entering thefts when Mason-Oceana 911 sent out a page to Life EMS and Hamlin Township Fire Department for a report of an unresponsive 76-year-old man in the parking lot at the Hamlin Lake beach.

“When we arrived on the scene, Albert Powell was lying on the ground behind his Chevrolet pickup truck,” Eskew said. “He was unresponsive.”

Kelli Dalrymple, a registered nurse, and Cindy Harrison, a licensed practical nurse, were performing CPR on Powell when Eskew and Kenney arrived. State park ranger Kevin Swygert then arrived and administered the automated external defibrillator (AED) on Powell. The AED advised one shock and Swygert delivered the shock, Eskew said. The AED never advised shock again. CPR was continued until a pulse was detected. Powell was then transported by Life EMS ambulance to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital.

Sheriff Cole said during the ceremony Friday that he spoked to Powell’s wife and she said he is still in the hospital but sitting up and on the road to recovery.

Cole presented a life saving award and a MCSO Challenge Coin to each of the lifesavers. Life EMS Paramedic/Supervisor Jim Herrema was also presented a challenge coin. Cole said only about 10 civilians have a challenge coin from MCSO.

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