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Boating accident survivor reunites with pilot, paramedics who saved her life

Sebastian teenager nearly drowned, suffered head injury in March crash in Indian River

MELBOURNE, Fla. – An emotional reunion took place Saturday between a 16-year-old girl and the first responders who rescued her from a boating accident.

Health First says Nicole Goslant from Sebastian injured her head and nearly drowned when the boat she was on crashed near Captain Hiram’s in March.

After weeks of rehab and recovery, Goslant got to thank her heroes at the Health First First Flight hangar at the Melbourne airport.

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“It meant a lot to me to know that such good people saved me,” the teenager said. “It’s just really great to have the opportunity to meet them.”

Goslant also had the opportunity to get back in the helicopter where pilot Chuck Mueller and paramedics Prudence Meads and Jo Folsom put Nicole on a ventilator and took her to the hospital.

“Having inhaled a lot of water, we were worried about your lungs in addition to, obviously, a possible head injury,” Folsom said.

Goslant told News 6′s James Sparvero the accident and her recovery have given her a new appreciation to be alive.

“Before this, I would always complain about stuff, but now I’m thankful that I’m here,” she said. “I do have a different look on life now.”

And Goslant isn’t the only survivor getting to thank her heroes.

Wednesday night is Health First’s annual trauma-survivor reunion event.

This year at Holmes Regional Medical Center, at least 16 people who owe their lives to the pilots, paramedics, and many other people working at the hospital will get to catch up with their heroes once again.


About the Author
James Sparvero headshot

James joined News 6 in March 2016 as the Brevard County Reporter. His arrival was the realization of a three-year effort to return to the state where his career began. James is from Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State in 2009 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

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