Positivity: Tequesta (FL) diver named ‘Real Hero’
Tequesta diver named ‘Real Hero’ for saving buddy off Juno
May 20, 2007A Tequesta man’s quick thinking during a dive in November not only saved his buddy’s life but earned him an American Red Cross Palm Beach Area Chapter “Real Heroes Marine Rescue Award” at a breakfast Wednesday in West Palm Beach.
Michael Syler, 19, was nominated for the award by the Tequesta Fire-Rescue Department because of his lifesaving efforts while scuba diving off a local dive charter boat.
Both Syler and Kyle Connelly, 21, were diving together in 95 feet of water on a reef east of Juno Beach when Connelly signaled to Syler that he was running low on air. Syler swam to Connelly’s side, and moments later Connelly indicated he had run out of air, so Syler offered his backup regulator to Syler.
Both divers made a rapid ascent to the surface, but when they reached 30 feet below the water, Syler’s pressure gauge registered zero and Connelly was now unconscious. Syler rushed his diving buddy to the surface, signaled the dive boat while he kept Connelly’s head above water and began rescue breathing. Connelly began to breath, but remained unconscious and didn’t come around until after the dive boat pulled them aboard, and he was given oxygen.
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