College student rescues three girls from Lake Washington during Seafair crowd
While waiting for the Blue Angels show, Lillie Vehling saw three girls struggling in Lake Washington and pulled them to safety.
During Seattle's Seafair weekend, college student Lillie Vehling was waiting near Genesee Park to watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels air show. She observed three young girls fighting to stay afloat beyond the buoy line on Lake Washington. Drawing on her background as a lifeguard and former University of California, Davis water-polo athlete, Vehling jumped in and rescued the children one after another, confronting an unconscious girl tangled in the buoy ropes.
Emergency personnel reached the scene soon after to provide medical care. Seafair staff, including Emily Cantrell, praised her actions and presented her with an honorary title at the festival's gala. The incident underscored the value of water-safety expertise in crowded recreational settings.
Why it matters
The story shows how ordinary by-standers with proper training can prevent tragedies in public water areas.
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