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NMSU police officer helps rescue swimmer in Hawaii
When it comes to life-or-death situations, quick thinking can make the difference between a tragedy and a happy ending, as off-duty NMSU police officer Brandi Texeira showed in August when she helped rescue an unconscious swimmer in Hawaii.
Texeira said she was fishing at Anini Beach on the island of Kauai when she saw two people walking out into the shallow water toward a young woman lying face down and unconscious in the water. Texeira ran out and helped the two bystanders bring the woman to shore.
Texeira and a bystander worked together to perform CPR on the woman. After doing CPR for several minutes, the woman began breathing again. Paramedics then arrived and took the swimmer to the hospital. News reports of the incident said the woman is expected to make a full recovery.
"You train and become certified for CPR, but never really think you're going to use it. The time came for me to act, and my instincts took over and I did what I needed to do," Texeira said.
Kauai mayor Bernard Carvalho honored Texeira with a certificate of commendation. She also will be eligible for a departmental commendation and award at the end of the year.
"I am not the hero in this story. I wouldn't have been able to do this without God, first and foremost, and the help of the other beachgoers," she said.
Texeira is a graduate of the criminal justice program at NMSU and has been on the university police force for more than a year. She graduated at the top of her class at the police academy.
She was visiting family and friends in Hawaii for the first time in two years.
Written by Margaret Kovar.