The Life Saving Benevolent Association was founded in 1849 by a group committed to saving lives along the shores of New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey. The Association has three main objectives:

• To recognize and reward courage in the rescue of human life at sea or on navigable waters.

• To encourage training in seamanship, rescue methods, and resuscitation; and

• To perform other services of a charitable and educational nature.

Since its first awards ceremony in 1850, the LSBA has been privileged to honor the lifesaving efforts of more than 1,000 heroes. Inscribed on the medal we will soon award is the Latin phrase Vita felicibus ausis servata, which translates as “human life saved by successful daring deeds.”

To be honored with an LSBA medal, an individual must have entered the water to make their rescue. The person rescued must have survived the event, and financial awards will be given to water rescue professionals only for acts performed outside the scope of their professional duties

It was just after 2.45 p.m. at Wantagh Park Marina, New York. ME2 Gregory Caserta was carrying out some repairs on his boat with his father-in-law, Mr. Robert Skaats, and his four-year-old son, Dylan. He saw an elderly couple approaching their boat on the opposite dock. A short time later, he heard a loud splash.

Mr. Caserta immediately came out of his boat’s engine room onto the dock and heard the man—Mr. Breakstone, as we now know—shouting in panic for his wife, Carol. Greg asked what happened, and Mr. Breakstone explained that his wife had fallen into the water. Unable to see her initially despite looking all around their boat, Greg decided to get into the water in an attempt to find her. At that moment, he heard a muffled cry for help and soon realized it was coming from underneath the floating dock. Peering down, Gregory could just see Mrs. Breakstone’s eyes and mouth through the boards. She was starting to go below the surface and was choking, so Gregory tore the boards out, reached down, and held onto Mrs. Breakstone’s head and hair to keep her above water. Using tools that his father-in-law brought from Gregory’s boat, the two men pried up some more boards while Gregory kept Mrs. Breakstone’s head above water.  

Once the boards were up, Gregory entered the water, trying to keep Mrs. Breakstone calm and reassuring her that she was going to survive. He couldn’t get her out of the water but told his father-in-law to dial 911 and hand him the phone so he could explain the situation to them. 

A further complication happened when the emergency services arrived, as the weight of the numerous rescuers made the floating dock start to sink, putting Mrs. Breakstone in even more danger. Mr. Caserta shouted for everyone to get off the dock and only send a few people at a time. 

Throughout the 35-minute-long extrication process, Mr. Caserta stayed with Mrs. Breakstone, keeping her above the water. She was eventually freed and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and evaluation. 

For his selfless and unhesitating courage, we are proud to award Gregory Caserta a Bronze Medal of the Life Saving Benevolent Association, a plaque, and a check.