Teen pulled from lake showing signs of improvement

July 27, 2010

A 17-year-old Falls Church, Va., girl who was pulled from the lake Sunday at Greenbrier State Park near Boonsboro was improving Tuesday in a critical care unit at Fairfax Hospital, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The girl was in one of two designated swimming areas in the lake at about 4:50 p.m., according to Tammy McCorkle, assistant park manager for the South Mountain Recreation Area.

McCorkle said it is believed the girl, who was at the park with family members, might have suffered a seizure in about 2 to 3 feet of water.

Lifeguard Hannah Petro of Sharpsburg pulled the girl from the water to the lake's edge and her brother, Matt Petro, who also is a lifeguard, arrived in seconds to assist, according to a DNR news release.

The Petros quickly assessed the girl's condition and determined she was not breathing and she had no pulse, the release said. The lifeguards started chest compressions and rescue breathing, the release said.

Other officials arrived to help and the girl became responsive, the release said. The girl was struggling to breathe on her own and was given oxygen and kept stable until medical personnel arrived, the release said.

The girl was taken to Washington County Hospital and transferred to Fairfax Hospital, the release said.

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