The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Staffer Saves A Life
8/12/2004 | Women's Basketball
Aug. 12, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Just over a week ago on Wednesday, Aug. 4, Ole Miss Assistant Strength and Condition Coach Brian Herzog, headed to the pool at Cambridge Station apartments anticipating a nice relaxing afternoon in the sun. Herzog, who works with football, volleyball and women's basketball, was trying to make the most of his last bit of free time before preseason football and volleyball practice was to begin.
For that afternoon at least, the rest and relaxation would have to wait.
Herzog made his way to the pool area and was at the soft drink machine when he heard a fellow resident, Elizabeth Huddelston, question how long a young boy had been under the water. Huddelston, with the help of some other pool patrons, pulled Andrew Dixon, 14 of Oxford, from the pool and at that point Herzog began assisting. After helping get Dixon out of the water, Herzog immediately began CPR.
After a thorough investigation by the Oxford Police Department, Dixon is believed to have been submerged at the bottom of the shallow end of the pool in excess of three minutes.
"I was just going to sit out by the pool for a quiet afternoon," said Herzog, a New Orleans, La., native. "It all happened so fast. I just remember reacting to the situation and wanting to do anything to help."
Although Herzog was not sure exactly how long he performed CPR before the paramedics arrived, he did recall that after a few series of breaths and chest pumps, Dixon started to respond with some choking. It was not until he was secured in the ambulance that Herzog was informed that he had gotten the young boy back taking breaths.
"I am just happy that Andrew is alive," said Herzog. "I didn't do anything anyone else I my position would not have done. I just reacted the only way I knew how and that was to help in any way I could."
Oxford Chief of Police Steve Bramlett thinks otherwise.
"Brian Herzog is a hero," said Chief Bramlett. "He helped preserve our most precious gift, a human life. Because of Brian's swift action and his training, a young man is alive today."
Dixon was the direct beneficiary of Herzog's training. Herzog had just been re-certified in CPR by members of the Ole Miss Athletic Training staff the day before the accident occurred.
Dixon was taken immediately to Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford before being transported via helicopter to Memphis. Dixon regained consciousness over the weekend and was released from the hospital on Tuesday. According to family members, Andrew is scheduled to return to school full-time on Friday.
