Porter County Sheriff David Lane is calling two young women lifesavers after they pulled a 90-year-old woman from a water-filled ditch in Liberty Township earlier this year.

Honored in a ceremony on Monday were Tristen Comegys, 20, of Chesterton, and Meagan Arizpe, 22, of Valparaiso.

Cpl. Larry LaFlower of the PCSP recommended both for the department’s Life Saving Award following their actions on March 11, as they were driving to Valparaiso around 9 p.m. The two were westbound on C.R. 1050N, in the area of C.R. 163W, when “they observed a light coming from the ditch,” LaFlower stated in his letter of commendation.

“They turned around and stopped to investigate the source of the light and found an elderly woman submerged up to her neck in water in the ditch,” LaFlower stated. “The elderly female, along with her walker, were pulled out of the ditch and covered with a jacket until emergency responders arrived.”

“The unselfish, heroic actions by Tristen and Meagan in getting the elderly woman out of the water-filled ditch prevented the certain death of 90-year-old Eleanor Adams,” LaFlower concluded.

Lain had high praise for Comegys and Arizpe. “They are two shining examples of why our generation has little to fear from the next,” he told the Chesterton Tribune. “They clearly have a good sense of community, they have a great care for their fellow human beings.”

“Tristen and Comegys put themselves at risk to help a total stranger and I really believe that’s living the Golden Rule,” Lain said.

Adams’ son, Raymond Adams, was on hand for the ceremony.

Posted 6/17/2011