Job Talk: August's Story

Hero Stories, First Responder Memories, Highlights, Station Jab, Motivation Talk, Inspirational Accounts From You! Submittals from First Responders, Family Members or Friends that Share Real Life Stories. Submit Your Story HERE

Submitted by FF/PM/Diver Denny D.

Upon responding to a Swift Water Rescue, I was the driver of the Dive Team unit with a 6-person crew. I assisted the Divers with their equipment to the scene only wearing a PFD Jacket. Upon evaluating the incident my Officer decided he wanted me to perform the rescue. 

I returned to the Dive Unit to suit up, but in the hurried haste of doing this I forgot to put on my Safety Life Knife. Upon returning to the scene I swam out to the 12-year old boy who had been swept away and was now straddling a tree branch of a tree in the middle of  a raging swift water river. A few attempts had been made to shoot a Safety Line Buoy to the youth without success, due to the nylon cord lines being swept under the water before the boy could grab it.

After finally reaching the youth and putting him in a PFD, helmet, and Swiss Seat Harness, we were about to jump into the swift moving water. I was talking with the youth reassuring him that he and I were going to be okay because of the Rescue Team on shore where our lifeline was secured. Upon trying to remove the subject, he was unable to get off the branch because his legs were wrapped up with the 3-nylon cord lines that had been swept underneath the water and just tied the boys legs secured to the tree branch; that was the boys lifeline (branch) before I reached him in order to rescue him. In the haste of suiting myself up I had forgotten my safety knife, which I needed to cut the boys legs free in order to complete the rescue. 

I advised my OIC of the issue and told him what I needed to complete the rescue. He sent me his knife on a “D” Ring and sheath on the life line that we were tied off on. Once I was able to cut through all the nylon cords that had hog tied the youth, we were able to get ourselves off the branch and be pulled to the shore by the initial rescue and truck crews awaiting our removal from the swift water rescue incident. The youth was then transferred over to EMS care on the scene. It was a great outcome with best of TEAM Work Ops.

In the heat and haste of the battle or rescue, always have a secondary safety check before starting the operation!