The U.S. Marshals Service and Mercer Island Fire Department presented awards during the Oct. 4 City Council meeting to two individuals who helped save the life of Mercer Island resident Jack Williams.

After Williams, an assistant chief deputy U.S. marshal, collapsed from a major heart arrhythmia at Islander Middle School last June, bystanders Erin White and Eric Weber began prompt CPR.

“If it weren’t for them getting down and starting the CPR, the outcome probably wouldn’t have been the same,” said Les Kenworthy, Mercer Island Fire Department battalion chief. The fire department co-presented the awards to White and Weber. “Living in this area where we live, where the community is open to learning CPR and then engaging in that in public, is what saves people and why King County has got the highest save percentage rates in the country — because of people like Erin and Eric who are willing to jump in and start the process,” Kenworthy said.

Certificates of appreciation were also presented by Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal David Miller to Mercer Island and Bellevue police, fire personnel and paramedics who responded to the emergency, including Mercer Island firefighters Mark Givens, Larry Jorgensen, John Novak and Matt Kennedy; acting lieutenant Geoff Coburn, acting lieutenant Alec Munro and Battalion Chief Les Kenworthy; Island police officer Todd Wilson, Sergeant Ryan Parr, Sergeant Manny Rucker, Bellevue paramedics Dennis Olsen and Sean Sturgeon, and Medical Services Officer Art Cole. One other marshal from the U.S. Marshal Western District of Washington, Seattle office, was also present during the ceremony.

The Seattle district U.S. Marshals Service minted a coin, which was given in a private ceremony, in commemoration of the occasion.