(KNSI) – Five St. Joseph Fire Department members, a police officer, paramedics, and seven citizens have been recognized for saving a man’s life following a medical emergency while playing pickleball.
In January, Captain Keith Louwagie and Firefighters Shirlie Brill, Ron Schmidt, Jack Taufen, and Cole Staneart worked alongside courageous bystanders Claud Hancock, Ashley Bueckers, Ann Alvord, Bob Kemp, Dawn Kemp, Christine Thralow, and Carolyn Skudlarek to perform CPR and use a defibrillator on the victim after he collapsed. Officer Travis Manderscheid and Mayo Ambulance Paramedics Victoria Sanchez and Elizabeth Sowada also assisted. Their quick thinking and teamwork kept the man alive long enough for him to be rushed to the hospital.
Thanks to their heroic actions, he made a full recovery and was able to personally thank his rescuers at the award ceremony.
Officials say all those involved are a living testament to the life-saving power of emergency response training and swift action during critical moments.
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