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Mayor's Husband Saved by New Lifeguard Program
17 Jun
Summary
- New lifeguards saved the mayor's husband from cardiac arrest.
- Lifeguards performed CPR and used an AED to revive the man.
- Lifeguards returned to South Beach after a 25-year absence.
In a testament to South Haven's new lifeguard program, Mayor Annie Brown's husband, Jeff Fibrandt, was saved from cardiac arrest at South Beach on June 9. Fibrandt collapsed suddenly while speaking with lifeguards after a swim. The lifeguards immediately initiated CPR and deployed an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), actions doctors later credited with saving his life.
This critical event occurred just weeks after lifeguards returned to South Beach for the first time in 25 years. Lifeguards had been absent from many Michigan beaches since the late 1990s due to staffing and financial issues. Their reinstatement over Memorial Day weekend 2026 followed strong advocacy from safety groups, underscoring the program's vital importance.
Mayor Brown publicly thanked the lifeguards, emergency services, and police department for their swift and effective response. She shared that medical professionals repeatedly told her Fibrandt was incredibly lucky to be alive, specifically due to the immediate intervention of trained lifeguards.
