Marion Harbormaster and police sergeant awarded for life-saving rescue

MARION — After 19-year-old Jordan Haims fell overboard at Silvershell Beach and suffered from severe hypothermia, Harbormaster Adam Murphy and Marion Police Sgt. Larry Savery led a rescue effort that ultimately saved Haims’ life.

Murphy and Savery were given an official citation and recognition on behalf of the Marion Select Board at a meeting Wednesday, Feb. 19 for their valiant work.

“Your actions are a credit to yourself and the residents of Marion and were a display of the highest standards of a public safety professional and serviceman,” said Marion Select Board Chair Norman Hills.

Murphy thanked those who assisted in the rescue and the Haims family, praising the efforts of Savery in particular.

“His crucial role in getting that boat operational while I was heading from home, in my opinion, gave us a positive outcome,” said Murphy.

Following the awarding of the citation and recognition, the Select Board accepted a donation of $10,000 from Jordan’s father Russ Haims.

“As parents, having the possibility of not have our beloved child as part of our life would have been devastating,” said Haims.

Haims expressed his gratitude toward the emergency responders who saved his son’s life and urged the recipients of the donation to use it to ”share in some joy.”

“Please share this donation with everyone that matters to you because that’s what’s really important. Everything else is just noise but everyone that you care about,” said Haims.