Off-Duty Fire and Rescue Captain and His Wife Save Life of Eight-Year Old Girl

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Captain John Peppel and his wife Tina saved the life of an eight-year old girl Thursday while hiking in Seneca Creek State Park.

In the right place at the right time! MCFRS Captain John Peppel & wife Tina saved a life while off duty and hiking at Seneca Creek State Park yesterday. They saw a young girl in the lake struggling to stay above water. John went into the lake and pulled her to safety. The 8 year pic.twitter.com/GkPFutSWxp

— Mo Co Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation (@MoCoFireFndn) June 5, 2020

According to the Montgomery County Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation, Peppel, who was off duty, and his wife were hiking when they saw the young girl struggling to stay above water in the park’s lake. Peppel then reportedly went into the lake and was able to pull her to safety.

At the time of the incident, a search was underway for the girl, who is autistic, and had wandered away from her home nearby.

Following the rescue, Captain Peppel and his wife walked her to safety to be reunited with her family.

“We firmly believe that God made sure we were at the right place, at the right time,” said Peppel.

About Mira Varghese

Mira was a student at the University of Maryland double majoring in Journalism and Government and Politics during the summer of 2020 when she interned with Montgomery Community Media.

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