Emergency responders honored for rescue | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

Yesterday the Association for Rescue at Sea honored the Annapolis Fire Department, as well as the county Fire Department, the Coast Guard and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, for their joint effort in helping to save 26-year-old Patricia Morgan from the water.

The Baltimore woman was aboard a 27-foot-sailboat June 7 when a sudden storm hit.

She was on the boat with her boyfriend, Carlo Fraizzoli, 32. Afraid that the boat would capsize, she jumped off the boat without a life jacket and was in the water for about three hours off Gibson Island before Annapolis Fire Boat 35 was able to bring her in.

A total of 34 emergency responders responded for the rescue, including a dive team and three fire boats - one from Annapolis and two from the county.

Specifically honored were Firefighter Phil Morris, Acting Lt. Greg Young and Firefighter Michael Lonergan Jr., who were on the Annapolis Fire Boat 35 that pulled Ms. Morgan to safety.

Lt. Young recalled staying close and trying to find the woman in the water during the dark stormy night.

"We heard her scream before we saw her," he said.

When they finally pulled her out of the water, she was exhausted and wasn't even able to walk. Firefighters gave her water, warmed her up and sent her to the hospital as a precaution.

Most of the time, rescues don't end as happily, the firefighters agreed.

"We were happy. We do all that training, and we're happy it paid off," Lt. Young said.

Ms. Morgan recalled being scared that night.

"I saw all three (rescue) boats, at a distance. But they didn't see me," she recalled.

She tried to swim to the Baltimore Harbor Light but didn't see anything she could grab. And she wasn't sure if she could make it to the shore.

She said her boyfriend, who was on the boat, tried to save her for about 45 minutes before calling 911.

She tried not to panic. She swam on her back to keep her strength up, she said.

"I was thinking I was going to live. I just tried to let no water get into my lungs," Ms. Morgan said.

She also thought of her two younger sisters, who live with her.

"(I thought), it's not my time," she said.

The woman said she grew up on the bay but spent most of her time there on motorboats. She'd only been on a sailboat for the first time last year.

She said the experience might make her leery of another sailboat trip.

Capt. John B. Chomeau of the association called the rescue "extraordinary" because the agencies worked so closely together to make it work.

"The great success they had - it was not a miraculous rescue, it was not a heroic rescue," but it was successful because they all worked together, he said in giving the honor.

Alderman David Cordle, chairman of Annapolis City Council's Public Safety Committee, praised the cooperative efforts of the agencies.

"This young lady is fortunate to be here today because of what these people do for a living," Mr. Cordle said.

Chief Jerry Smith of the Annapolis Fire Department said the cooperation was nothing new.

"The only difference this time was that our boat got their first," he said.

Chief David L. Stokes agreed, saying "it's all about teamwork."

Col. George Johnson IV, superintendent of Maryland Natural Resources Police, said it was all part of the job.

"I think our training proved itself. We're very glad to have her around today to be able to tell her story," he said.