For 30 years, Gordon Spitler has been serving the Key Biscayne community. So saving two kayakers who ended up in the water off Hobie Island Beach Park was just a normal day’s work.
Spitler received the agency’s life-saving award for his “heroic actions” on Oct. 17, when the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office reported an emergency involving an overturned kayak. Key Biscayne received a call from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office to respond to two distressed swimmers whose kayak had overturned.
“And at the time, Miami-Dade sheriff’s office didn’t have available vessels to respond,” Police Chief Frank Sousa told the Village Council Nov. 18.
“Upon locating both individuals who were in the water, he observed that they were visibly in distress and struggling to stay afloat.”
Operating alone, Spitler maneuvered the police vessel to rescue the swimmers. He hoisted one exhausted victim aboard, placed him in a recovery position, and simultaneously coordinated the rescue of the second swimmer, Sousa said.
Both kayakers were transported to the Miami Seaquarium dock area for medical assistance.
“His quick response, courage and prompt execution of his duties directly resulted in the preservation of two lives,” Sousa said.
After receiving the award, Spitler credited the community’s support. “We’re a community,” he said. “It starts from the residents here.”
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JOHN PACENTI is a correspondent of the Key Biscayne Independent. John has worked for The Associated Press, the Palm Beach Post, Daily Business Review, and WPTV-TV.