Rockville Centre man saved from the sea

It’s the story of one village resident saving the life of another.

As Hurricane Earl headed up the East Coast last month, churning up the North Atlantic and creating dangerous rip currents and inclement weather, Kristen Caulfield was just another 18-year-old off-duty lifeguard.

All of that changed on Sept. 2. At around 7 p.m. that day, people were pointing to the ocean off Atlantic Beach, where a swimmer named Mike Gimpel was struggling 100 yards out from shore. Caulfield, who had just finished her lifeguarding shift, volunteered to swim out through the treacherous water to save Gimpel. Fellow lifeguards strapped a 600-foot tow line around her. Once she reached him, the pair were pulled safely back to shore.

Caulfield, a second-year guard at the Atlantic Beach Club, and Gimpel, a 58-year-old New York City firefighter, were both taken to the Long Beach Medical Center as a precautionary measure. The hospital eventually released them and Caulfield was back at work the very next day.

Last week — a little over a month after the spectacular rescue — Rockville Centre Mayor Mary Bossart formally recognized Caulfield’s brave actions at a village board meeting. “Under adverse circumstances, she did a splendid job,” Bossart said. “We honor her for her extraordinary heroism.”

Caulfield received several awards during the Village Hall presentation. The mayor presented her with a village proclamation certificate and medal, and Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tony Brunetta gave her a plaque. Caulfield also received a community service award from the Police Department.

“She is an outstanding person who is very dedicated,” said Brunetta. “She is a reflection of young people across the country, and I’m very proud of her.”

Caulfield acknowledged that she has received an overwhelming amount of publicity since the incident. “I’ve been in plenty of papers lately and I’m honored by all the press,” she told the Herald, “but I would just like to go back to being a regular person.”

She is currently taking classes at Nassau Community College. Gimpel has since paid Caulfield a visit, and thanked her for saving his life.

Comments about this story? TSteinert@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.