Photo Release: Coast Guardsman receives medal in Atlantic Beach, NC, for saving 5 lives

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 05/31/2017 07:42 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

Photo Release  

May 31, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic
Contact: 5th District Public Affairs
Office: (757) 398-6272
After Hours: (757) 434-7712

Photo Release: Coast Guardsman receives medal in Atlantic Beach, NC, for saving 5 lives

Coast Guard Rear Adm. Meredith Austin, commander, 5th Coast Guard District, presents the Coast Guard Commendation Medal to Fireman James Sanders during a ceremony at Coast Guard Sector Field Office Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, May 31, 2017. On May 11, 2016, Sanders was off-duty when he rescued five women who fell into Taylor Creek after a pier collapsed at The Spouter Inn in Beaufort, North Carolina. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki/Released)

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WILMINGTON, N.C. — Coast Guard Fireman James Sanders of Station Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, received the Coast Guard Commendation Medal during a ceremony at Sector Field Office Fort Macon, Wednesday.

Sanders received the medal for rescuing five women after they fell into Taylor Creek when a pier collapsed at The Spouter Inn in Beaufort, North Carolina, May 11, 2016.

Sanders jumped into the water and helped the women tread water for over 10 minutes before towing each person 30 yards to waiting emergency medical personnel.

Rear Adm. Meredith Austin, commander, 5th Coast Guard District, presented Sanders with the medal.

To read more about Sanders' rescue of the five women, click here: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/198900/dinner-and-rescue-off-duty-coast-guardsman-takes-life-saving-action-beaufort-nc

Coast Guard Rear Adm. Meredith Austin, commander, 5th Coast Guard District, poses with Fireman James Sanders after presenting him with the Coast Guard Commendation Medal at Coast Guard Sector Field Office Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, May 31, 2017. Sanders rescued five women who fell into Taylor Creek after a pier collapsed at The Spouter Inn in Beaufort, North Carolina, May 11, 2016. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki/Released)
Coast Guard Rear Adm. Meredith Austin, commander, 5th Coast Guard District, presents the Coast Guard Commendation Medal to Fireman James Sanders during a ceremony at Coast Guard Sector Field Office Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, May 31, 2017. Sanders, a crew member of Station Fort Macon, jumped into Taylor Creek to rescue five women who fell into the water at the The Spouter Inn in Beaufort, North Carolina, May 11, 2016. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki/Released)
Coast Guard Fireman James Sanders, a crew member of Station Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, looks out over The Spouter Inn during an underway patrol aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat in Beaufort, North Carolina, May 31, 2017. Sanders received the Coast Guard Commendation Medal for his actions on May 11, 2016, when he rescued five women who fell into Taylor Creek after a pier collapsed at The Spouter Inn. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki/Released)

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