Deanna Babcock, a graduate student in soil science, had just finished a day of research outside, when she came into the Carmichael Gym pool.
As she began to swim, Jon Williams, an alum working part-time for the summer, looked over the pool, keeping with his usual routine.
But it was when Babcock stopped swimming, rolled over and started shaking that Williams sprang to action. He jumped in the pool and started checking the vitals.
Philip Sauls, a senior in English, was the other lifeguard on duty. He was manning the office at the time, when a member of the swim team ran in to tell Sauls what was happening.
Sauls grabbed the oxygen kit and the heart defibrillator and cleared the pool. The two began work on Babcock, eventually removing her from the pool, giving her oxygen and using electric shocks to revive her heart rhythm.
Emergency crews began to arrive and Sauls and Williams began giving CPR, before EMS transported Babcock to Wake Medical Center.
“I’ve never had anything at N.C. State like that,” Sauls said of the incident. “It seems like it’s the most severe incident the pool has had in the past five years.”
Babcock survived the incident that took place July 13, but she is still in the hospital after having to have most of her leg amputated after severe swelling.
According to Rich McLaughlin, an associate professor of soil science who works with Babcock, the cross country runner planned on participating in the Ironman competition — a triathlon event consisting of running, swimming and biking.
“Everybody really came together to visit her and care for her and her family,” McLaughlin said. “Frankly we didnÃt know how many groups she was involved in, but they all came out for her.”
Babcock is responsive to some things, but still relatively unconscious, according to McLaughlin. But the group is still optimistic about the recovery of her brain functions.
“The messages that we’ve gotten are that all indications are positive,” McLaughlin said. “You worry about brain damage, but the responses now are positive and we’re hopeful for a full recovery on the cognitive aspect.”
As far as the two lifeguards, they’ve gone back to working at the pool, with Sauls busy in the stand Wednesday afternoon.
Babcock’s grandparents paid them a visit after the incident to express their appreciation.
“There were just a bunch of thank-you’s,” Williams said.
