THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 15, 1995 TAG: 9507150382
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARA STANLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Lila Hess owes her life to Doug McQuarrie.
Hess, 37, got to hug him and thank him Friday for saving her from drowning.
``I'm more than grateful. I'm so glad you were there,'' Hess told him.
``I'm just glad I could bring you back,'' said McQuarrie, a 31-year-old Navy SEAL. ``I'm glad I was there for you.''
Hess said she doesn't remember much about what happened. She said she had argued with her husband Wednesday morning and decided she needed to be alone. Hess wandered from her home in the 3600 block of East Ocean View Ave. and decided to sit on the rocks under the Shore Drive bridge, which crosses Little Creek.
``I was sitting on the rocks under the bridge, and I woke up in the hospital,'' Hess said. ``I didn't know how I got to the hospital at all.''
Hess said she was drinking as she sat under the bridge. She also said she couldn't swim.
``I guess I had too much to drink,'' she said.
Police spokesman Larry Hill said she probably passed out and fell into the water.
Police were called to the area of 22nd Bay Street and Pretty Lake Avenue just after 6 p.m. McQuarrie, a SEAL assigned to Naval Special Warfare Group Two, was driving across the Shore Drive Bridge from a 12-day training assignment at Fort AP Hill when he saw the police cars.
McQuarrie, of the 900 block of Daimler Drive in Virginia Beach, said he didn't think twice when he saw the police looking at Hess floating about 150 yards offshore in Little Creek. He stripped to his running shorts, dove into the water and swam out to her.
``They were all just standing there looking at the water,'' McQuarrie said. ``No one was out there. The current looked pretty strong. She was just floating.
``I didn't take any chances. I went out and helped,'' he said. ``I was wondering why everybody was looking at her and nobody was going for her.''
McQuarrie said when he reached her, Hess was unconscious and floating on her back. He towed Hess safely to shore using the lifeguard skills he learned when he was 15. He now teaches those skills to Navy SEAL trainees.
He said the rescue was routine for him, and he seemed a little embarrassed when called a hero.
``I've saved little kids before as a lifeguard. As a SEAL I've helped recover bodies,'' said McQuarrie, a petty officer first class who just found out he will be promoted to chief. ``I'm really glad that it turned out that she's OK.
``It's good to help someone,'' he said.
Hill said McQuarrie has been recommended for a commendation from the Police Department.
``His quick response with his special skills made it possible (for Hess) to survive her ordeal,'' Hill said.
McQuarrie, his wife and four children met Hess and her family Friday at the police's 2nd Precinct.
Hess' 13-year-old son, Tim, shook McQuarrie's hand. ``Thank you for saving my mom,'' he said with tears in his eyes.
Hess' family said they did not know where she was for most of the day Wednesday.
``Me and the kids looked for her all day long,'' said Jacob Hess Jr., Hess's husband. ``I'm more than grateful. I'd rather be mad at her than burying her.''
Hess said she never had any suicidal thoughts when she was sitting under the bridge, but she does have a new perspective on her life.
``It's worth living. That's for sure,'' she said. ``Take one day at a time.'' ILLUSTRATION: D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Staff
Doug McQuarrie, a 31-year-old Navy SEAL, meets Lila Hess for the
second time at a news conference Friday. McQuarrie rescued Hess from
drowning Wednesday.
by CNB