Buncombe County Honors Paramedics After Child Rescued at Black Mountain Pool
Buncombe County today honored three paramedics for their role in a July 21 drowning rescue at Black Mountain Pool, recognizing teamwork that helped a child make a full recovery. The award highlights the lifesaving impact of bystander CPR and coordinated response among lifeguards, firefighters, emergency medical services, and hospital staff.
Buncombe County today recognized paramedics Archie Steel, Faith Crawford and Community Paramedic Matt Conlin with Mission Hospital’s Call of the Quarter Award for their response to a drowning at Black Mountain Pool on July 21, 2025. County officials presented the awards at a public ceremony attended by the child involved and the child’s family, underscoring the outcome of a multiagency rescue that resulted in a full recovery.
The rescue began when a lifeguard and a pediatric nurse at the pool initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately after the child was found unresponsive. County Emergency Medical Services teams and personnel from the Black Mountain Fire Department arrived to provide advanced care. The child was transported to Mission Hospital where clinicians continued treatment. The child, identified in the county release as Saya, recovered fully.
Officials said the recognition today was meant to honor the paramedics and to show how rapid bystander action and coordinated professional care saved a life. The county release emphasized the importance of CPR training for bystanders and the role of community first responders in improving outcomes during medical emergencies. Event photos showing the responders and family were included with the announcement.
For Buncombe County residents the incident draws attention to safety at public pools and the practical benefits of training in emergency skills. The sequence of events at Black Mountain Pool illustrates how immediate intervention by people on scene can bridge the minutes before emergency personnel arrive, and how local agencies can work together to move a patient quickly into hospital care.
The public recognition today also highlights the evolving role of community paramedics in local emergency systems. By honoring the team and sharing details of the response, county officials aimed to reinforce public confidence in emergency services and to encourage community members to consider learning CPR and other basic life saving measures.
