On Feb. 2, coach Sophie Sabbah saved the life of one of her water polo team members. Venice High was playing Banning High School. Two Banning players were in the center of the pool, one Venice player was swimming towards the ball, and another Venice swimmer, Leslie Cardenas, was close behind the Banning player swimming towards the ball as well. When she tried to get the ball, she was kicked in the throat and went underwater for a long time.
    The blow caused her to lose her breath, gasp, and fall into the water. When she surfaced, coach Sabbah knew something was wrong by the look on Cardenas' face. Out of desperation, Cardenas had used all her strength to bring herself up to the surface, but passed out because of the lack of air in her lungs, and sunk into the water.
    Coach Sabbah, with her experience as an 18-year veteran lifeguard, an EMT, a member of the LA City Swift Water Rescue Team, and firefighter, dived into the pool fully clothed and without hesitation to rescue her student. When Sabbah brought Cardenas out of the pool, she started convulsing due to her body trying to clear the water out of her lungs. That was when the lifeguards came to assist Coach Sabbah.  Paramedics were called and the player was quickly transported to the hospital.
    “I was speechless when it happened. After that game, Coach Sabbah doesn’t even wear sandals anymore,” said Natali Cerritos, a teammate of Cardenas. “She is prepared for anything to occur.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
    Cardenas was hospitalized for a full 24 hours. She nearly died and said she is thankful to be alive and well. Now she is fully recuperated, thanks to Coach Sabbah’s quick thinking.
    “Three to five seconds more, and I would have, at the least, had brain damage,” said Cardenas.
“ I didn’t even think twice of what needed to be done, it was an automatic response,” said Ms. Sabbah, with tears in her eyes,  “and I would do it again and again for any of my athletes or students if their lives were in danger. It’s in my blood – to save lives.”