B. Chris Brewster, president of the United States Lifesaving Association, awarded four local San Diego Fire Rescue Department lifeguards the Medal of Valor during a presentation at Mission Bay’s Hospitality Point on Wednesday, Oct. 13. Sgt. Jon Vipond, Mark Feighan, Daryl McDonald and Peter Liebig received the medal for their heroic efforts on Nov. 28, 2009, when they saved six people from drowning after a 29-foot sportfishing vessel, the Defiance, capsized in the Mission Bay Channel. “I’m really proud of them because they deserve this award and more awards,” said Steven Sanford, 25, who was among those saved. Sanford recalled while submerged in the water he gave one last kick, which brought him to the surface where he was convinced he had taken his last breath. His life flashed before his eyes, he said. McDonald saw him and pulled him to safety. Large surf and a capsized vessel made for a “perfect storm of rescues,” McDonald said. The Medal of Valor has only been awarded to 32 lifeguards nationwide since 1987. “We give out less than two [Medals of Valor] a year,” Brewster said. He added that it was miracle that no lifeguards were injured in the rescue and noted that had one event leading up to the rescue been different, such as Vipond not arriving at work early that day, “the outcome would not be the same.” Mayor Jerry Sanders, Fire Chief Javier Mainar and Lifeguard Chief Rick Wurts joined Brewster in the presentation. “These four men are truly heroes and they’ve done the rest of their city proud,” Sanders said. Chief Mainar said that when he heard of the rescue, it tugged at his heartstrings, adding that public safety is truly a team effort. “They didn’t shirk from the [dangerous rescue] they stood in the pocket and then delivered,” Wurts said.