82-year-old man rescued from drowning

Larry Starks, 82, of Ypsilanti was swimming in the Belleville High School pool during Senior Aquatic Swim on Feb. 16, when he blacked out.
Pool manager John Cast said Starks was observed motionless and face down in Lane 4, a position called “passive drowning.”
Cast states this rescue was a team effort, with Deb Juchartz, Mary Ann Pinter, and Ellie Grudzien all assisting him.
“As I went to his assistance, I yelled to Deb Juchartz, who was near Larry, to roll him over onto his back,” Cast said. “Upon reaching Larry, we discovered he was not breathing, and started to remove him from pool.
“As we were unable to remove him from pool quickly, I proceeded to administer rescue breaths until he was safely resting on pool deck. Once on deck and on his side, his normal breathing returned,” Cast said.
It was at this point in time, that a rescue squad and paramedics arrived and assumed control of situation.
Starks was conscious and talking when he was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
“Again, this was a Team Effort,” Cast said. “Mary Ann Pinter called 911, Deb Juchartz and Ellie Grudzien helped me remove Larry from the pool. I only did what I am trained to do.”
Starks’ friend Ruth Ann Raynor of Ypsilanti said they are so grateful to Cast and those who moved quickly to rescue Starks from drowning. She said there is so much bad publicity about the schools and this is some good news.
She said Starks was being evaluated in the hospital on what made him pass out.