Lifeguards honor secret service agent for save

In honor of his heroism in saving a drowning woman off Broadkill Beach, Secret Service agent Matthew Schierloh was recently presented with an honorary rescue buoy by alumni of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol and members of the U.S. Lifesaving Association.

Schierloh and his family were on vacation June 18, after he had returned home from an overseas trip to Belgium. Relaxing with his wife, Jessica, and their kids, Adeline, Hatcher and Gabriel, Schierloh was alerted by his neighbor to a woman struggling in the water. Broadkill Beach is an unguarded beach, so there are no lifeguards around.

Schierloh had noticed that the woman had fallen off her raft and was about 400 to 500 yards out in Delaware Bay. Despite having no floatation devices or lifejackets around, and not being trained in water rescues, Schierloh went into the water to assist the woman. When he got near her, the woman was clearly frightened and exhausted, and she panicked, jumping on his back and hanging onto his neck. 

Fearing he would drown too, Schierloh said his Secret Service training kicked in. He settled the woman down and began figuring out a way to get both of them back to shore. He got ahold of her raft, giving her something to cling to as they began swimming toward the shore. Two kayakers in the area came by to lend a hand and help them reach shore.

When lifeguards Pete Hartsock and Woody Marderwald heard the Schierlohs’ story, they wanted to honor Matthew for his bravery. 

“Mr. Schierloh put himself in harm’s way to save the life of a woman who was approximately a quarter of a mile out in the Delaware Bay and appeared to be in distress,” Hartsock said.  

Of the decision to present Schierloh with a rescue buoy, Hartsock said lifeguards are supposed to always carry one with them on rescues, as buoys help save their lives and those of victims. The Schierlohs decided to share their story to make the public more aware of what is happening on the beach and to encourage others to be prepared. The family now makes sure to bring a first aid kit and a floatation device when they go out on Broadkill Beach. 

Hartsock said he and Marderwald have spoken with the USLA, a national nonprofit organization of lifeguards and open-water rescuers, about nominating Schierloh for recognition of his heroism. Hartsock and Marderwald presented the buoy to Schierloh and his wife at the Broadkill Store, near the site of the rescue. 

“I’m very honored to receive the buoy. My wife and I have a lot of respect for these gentlemen,” Schierloh said. “They have been involved with the surrounding community for many decades, and to see their passion for water-rescue tactics and making sure the community is aware of the potential dangers is very honorable.”