Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Deputy Greg Countryman Jr. with the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office the organization’s July First Friday Hero.

Deputies received a call about two children who were unconscious and not breathing after being pulled from a swimming pool.

Deputy Greg Countryman Jr. was the first to arrive on-scene where he saw the homeowner attempting to administer CPR to the children. The deputy took over CPR on one of the children and gave compressions. Both were successfully resuscitated. Sergeant Lori Weitzel also responded and assisted until EMS arrived. The children were transported to Piedmont Columbus Regional’s Pediatric Emergency Department for further evaluation.

Thanks to the quick response by Deputy Countryman Jr., tragedy was avoided— sparing the lives of these two children. 

A ceremony with Deputy Countryman and hospital leadership will be held at a later date to commend him for his response. His story is also featured throughout the hospital on commemorative posters and Piedmont Columbus Regional’s social media pages.

Click here to view water safety tips from Safe Kids Columbus.

Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in mid-2016 to recognize first responders each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Their line of work is often a thankless job and we want to make the community aware of our local heroes and all they do to make Columbus a better and safer place.