Last May, William T. Ericson was taking advantage of his time off and most definitely not looking for trouble. But he rushed toward the wreck when he spotted a ship crash into rocky outcrops off the coast of San Diego, throwing passengers into the water. He is currently being recognized by the Navy and Marine Corps Medical for his efforts in aiding the recovery of survivors by the Naval Medical Forces Support Command. During the Navy’s birthday festivities, the honor was given out.
On May 2, Ericson, an off-duty hospital corpsman, went hiking at the Cabrillo National Monument close to San Diego. San Diego lifeguards received reports of a ship drifting with one passenger on board shortly after 10 a.m. The actual numbers were closer to 30, it turns out. People began to swim; some made it to the rocky coast while others remained in the water. Several persons got swept away by a riptide. Lifeguards and Ericson, who witnessed the collision, hastened to the site. He swam to the accident and pulled victims to safety.
The going was tough. Lifeguard Lt. Rick Romero told the San Diego Union Tribune that the waves were five to six feet high after the rescue effort. Some persons were swept away by riptides or drowned. Ericson re-entered the water. He discovered four people submerged and entangled in floating debris and other objects. The hospital corpsman cut them free, pulling them out of the water and to the shore, saving their lives.
What Ericson and others who responded did not know in the immediate rescue was that the ship was apparently a human trafficking vessel moving migrants across the border. The smuggler was among those rescued, according to reports at the time. Four people died in the wreck and the aftermath. Firefighters, Border Patrol, the Coast Guard and lifeguards all responded to the incident.
