Darius Hughes Receives Outstanding Citizen Award

Darius Hughes receives an Outstanding Citizen Award from the Menifee City Council. Menifee 24/7 photo: Kristen Spoon

A Menifee resident who saved the life of a young boy in a swimming pool was honored Wednesday night by the Menifee City Council with an Outstanding Citizen Award.

Darius Hughes, 23, was working as a lifeguard at the Menifee Lakes Beach & Swim Club pool on June 11 when he noticed a boy struggling to stay afloat. Racing from his station at the top of the pool's water slide, Hughes jumped in and saved the boy from drowning.

Hughes' primary job that day was to regulate use of the slide, although he is a trained lifeguard who has worked at the pool the last two summers. A graduate of Paloma Valley High School, Hughes received his lifesaving merit badge on the way to becoming an Eagle Scout. He is home on summer vacation from BYU, where he is majoring in computer engineering.

"Though lifesaving was not his immediate task that day, his training and instincts kicked in," said Menifee Mayor Scott Mann during the presentation. "Asked about it afterward, Darius said he was just doing his job."