NewMilfordlifeguard who saved dad, toddler from drowning earns Red Cross award: 'Trained for this'

Jul. 23—Mulligan-Brown, 18, received the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for Professional Responders on May 20 in recognition of his efforts to save the father and his toddler on July 17, 2022.

"It's opened a lot of new opportunities in getting my name out," Mulligan-Brown said, "and it kind of showed lifeguards are needed, especially in a time where there is a shortage."

The New Milford Parks & Recreation Department did not identify the father and toddler due to confidentiality reasons.

'Practice for anything'

A New Milford resident, Mulligan-Brown is now working his third season as a lifeguard at Lynn Deming Park. He said he earned his lifeguard certification at the New Milford Sports Club and has been a competitive swimmer for 10 years, including four on the high school's varsity swim team.

Mulligan-Brown said he and his fellow lifeguards practice their skills every week at the park and run through different scenarios "to practice for anything." During his first season at the park, he said he watched other lifeguards who responded to swimmers in need of help.

It was during Mulligan-Brown's second summer at the park that he put his skills into action.

The park was crowded that day, he said, as he worked the last shift. The lifeguard who was on the chair before him asked Mulligan-Brown to keep an eye on a man in the water who wasn't "such a strong swimmer." The man had his 2-year-old son in the water without a life jacket, Mulligan-Brown said.

—

Candlewood Lake is economic boost for Danbury area: 'destination'

—

Great Clips hair salon opens 14th CT location in New Milford

The lifeguards were just minutes from the end of their shift when he saw the father coming back to shore with his son on his shoulders, Mulligan-Brown said.

"He was going very slow, and I noticed at one point he started going backward and his head started going lower and lower into the water," Mulligan-Brown said. "The son was so young he couldn't swim at all. ... The father started leaning back and bobbing his head and eventually the child popped off his shoulders and couldn't really keep himself up."

Mulligan-Brown said he acted on his training as soon as he saw the father's head bob. After blowing his whistle to alert the lifeguards and park patrons, he took to the water and started bringing the father and son to shore with help from the other lifeguards and some parkgoers.

"We get there pretty quick," Mulligan-Brown said. "Another 10 seconds and he might have been under or maybe the child might have gone under and people wouldn't have noticed. It wasn't until the whistle was blown that other people started to notice him."

Know your limits

A coworker nominated Mulligan-Brown for the Red Cross Lifesaving Award, and he received a certificate recognizing his efforts.

"I think that is absolutely outstanding, well-deserved by Aiden," said Mayor Pete Bass, "and it just shows, especially at Lynn Deming, how important our lifeguards are."

Working as a lifeguard is a great summer job, especially those "who come from swimming," Mulligan-Brown said. He said he advises swimmers at the park to be aware of their own skills and know their limits in the water.

"If you know it's difficult to swim, don't be afraid to bring a life jacket or ask for one," Mulligan-Brown said. "It's a lot less embarrassing getting a life jacket than being rescued."

Mulligan-Brown is a rising sophomore at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, where he is a marketing major.