A College Student’s Heroic Act Rescues Three Girls from Lake Washington
August 11, 2026
During Seattle’s Seafair festivities, a college student displayed remarkable bravery by rescuing three girls from Lake Washington. Lillie Vehling, who was present at Genesee Park to witness the U.S. Navy Blue Angels air show, noticed the girls struggling in the water near a buoy line.
Lillie Vehling / KOMO News
The situation seemed dire as Vehling observed one girl pulling the others down in her attempt to stay afloat. “They were already bobbing up and down trying to get breaths, and one of the girls was actually drowning the others in order to breathe, and that’s when I knew I had to jump in,” she recalled.
Vehling, a water polo player from UC Davis and a trained lifeguard, quickly assessed the urgency of the situation. She dashed into the water, prioritizing the girl in the most critical condition by removing her from the dangerous situation first.
“I first grabbed the girl that was drowning the other two to get her out of the environment so that the other two weren’t even in worse shape, and I removed them one by one,” Vehling explained. After ensuring the first girl’s safety in shallow water, she returned for the remaining two, finding the last one unconscious and caught in a buoy rope.
Help arrived soon after, with the Seattle Fire Department paramedics providing medical attention. One girl required hospitalization at Seattle Children’s Hospital but was reported to be stable.
Seafair’s President and CEO, Emily Cantrell, acknowledged Vehling’s heroism by inviting her to the evening gala, bestowing upon her the honorary title of “Lady Guardian of Lake Washington.” Cantrell praised, “It was incredible having her at the right place at the right time. What she did was extraordinary.”
Photo credit: Emily Cantrell, Seafair
Despite the accolades, Vehling remains humble about her actions. “To save three people, I didn’t think twice about myself,” she stated. “I’m just glad everyone’s safe.”
Through her swift and decisive actions, three young lives were saved, highlighting the impact one individual’s courage can have in a moment of crisis.
