North Shores lifeguards thanked with pizza for rescue
A day out on the boat became a fight for survival July 1 for Leigh Pracht in the waters just off Lewes when she was unable to get back in her boat, drifting off in the current.
Rescue efforts began as soon as first responders were alerted, but they were unable to locate Pracht in their initial search of the vast sea. Fortunately, six off-duty North Shores lifeguards heard the operation on the scanner and received Pulse Point alerts. Luke McDermott led the way. as Lt. RJ Rusnak, Lt. Caleb Smietana, Joe Farnan, Liz Perry and Chief Auggie Carlozzi left their various homes in Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach to assist in the rescue efforts.
A state police helicopter and Coast Guard boat were part of a search that had been going on for about an hour when the six lifeguards arrived at the Cape Henlopen State Park bathhouse in their four-wheelers. McDermott spotted Pracht waving 300 yards out, and half the guards swam out to get Pracht back to shore where emergency personnel were waiting for her.
To show her appreciation for the heroics performed by the lifeguards, Pracht treated North Shores lifeguards to some pizza July 17. She also took time to hang out with her team of rescuers.
Aaron Mushrush joined the sports team in Summer 2023 to help cover the emerging youth athletics scene in the Cape Region. After lettering in soccer and lacrosse at Sussex Tech, he played lacrosse at Division III Eastern University in St. David's, PA. Aaron coached lacrosse at Sussex Tech in 2009 and 2011. Post-collegiately, Mush played in the Eastern Shore Summer Lacrosse League for Blue Bird Tavern and Saltwater Lacrosse. He competed in several tournaments for the Shamrocks Lacrosse Club, which blossomed into the Maryland Lacrosse League (MDLL). Aaron interned at the Coastal Point before becoming assistant director at WMDT-TV 47 ABC in 2017 and eventually assignment editor in 2018.
