A dramatic water rescue unfolded Sunday at Badu Park after a man dove off the dam and did not resurface. Llano Police officers, Hamilton EMS, and the Llano Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene around midday following reports of a possible drowning.
Bystanders had already located the man, identified as Steven Benson, a resident of Brownwood, TX. He had suffered a severe head injury after striking a rock underwater. Emergency responders, including Officer Kegan Gould, LVFD Chief David Gilliland, and Hamilton EMS Captain Aarron Guthrie, swam across the water to begin medical treatment and prepare Benson for transport.
With the help of the team and nearby citizens, Benson was floated back across the water, stabilized, and placed in an ambulance. He was transported to Llano Regional Hospital and then airlifted to Austin for emergency care.
