Astoria OSU Student Honored For Saving Swimmer's Life

Daria Vandergrift was honored by the City of Astoria Tuesday night for saving the life of an Astoria swim team member in December.  
With her parents and sister in the city council chambers, Vandergrift, speaking from her OSU dorm room via Skype,  was presented the award by Astoria Mayor Willis Van Dusen:

On a two-way Skype computer connection, the mayor presented the citation.

“Daria – see this?  This is for employee recognition.  We hereby from the City of Astoria, sincerely appreciate Daria Vandergrift in grateful recognition of your outstanding performance, productivity and dedicated service” 

Vandergift, an OSU student, was formerly a lifeguard at Astoria’s Aquatic Center, where on December 16th she jumped into the pool to pull out a struggling swim team member, who had inhaled a large amount of water.  She then administered the Heimlich maneuver, and stayed with the swimmer until Astoria fire department members and medics arrived.