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Gallipolis firefighter and three members of local law enforcement have been
chosen the Lifesaving Heroes of 2009 by the community in the “Everyday
Heroes” recognition organized by the Gallia County Chapter of the American
Red Cross.
To be honored at a June 18 breakfast will be Gallia County sheriff’s
deputies Kevin Werry and Scott Darst, Trooper Nicholas Hoffman of the State
Highway Patrol, and Lt. Brett Saxon of the Gallipolis Volunteer Fire
Department.
The breakfast will be held at 7:30 a.m. at the Gallia County Senior
Resource Center. Tickets are $10 apiece and are available from the local Red
Cross office at 444 Second Ave., phone 446-8555. |
Photo by Detective
Chris Gill. Pictured above (left to right)
Deputies Kevin Werry and Scott Darst, Trooper Nicholas
Hoffman and Gallipolis Fireman Brett Saxon |
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The four
are being hailed for their part in rescuing a child and another individual
from a fire at Gallia Metropolitan Estates on Buck Ridge Road.
On Jan. 2, 2009, at 9:01 p.m., Darst, Werry and Hoffman arrived on the
scene. Werry spoke with April Taylor and she said her 9-year-old son
Nicholas was still inside the apartment. Werry asked April where Nicholas
was inside the apartment and she told him he was upstairs.
Werry entered the apartment, made it to the top of the stairs and could
see he could not make it to Nicholas due to the intensity of the heat and
smoke. Nicholas was yelling. Werry went back down the steps and told Darst
that he needed a fire extinguisher.
Hoffman grabbed his fire extinguisher out of his patrol vehicle and Darst
handed it to Werry.
Darst and Werry re-entered the apartment and started up the steps, the
fire was working its way down the steps. Werry put the fire out as they
moved forward until they reached the top of the steps. While Werry was
trying to put out the fire to the right of them, he saw a person standing in
the smoke between the steps and the bedroom door.
Werry reached out and grabbed the person and pulled him towards Werry.
Terry Watson, a friend of April Taylor, was trying to save Nicholas, but
Nicholas refused to leave the bedroom and was clinging to the bed. Terry
said the heat and smoke got too bad and he had to let Nicholas go. Terry
said when he tried to get back out he could not find the steps and was
standing where Werry found him.
Werry passed Terry to Darst down the steps. Terry was taken out of the
apartment by Hoffman, where he fell to the ground. Terry was later treated
at the scene by Gallia County EMS for smoke inhalation.
Darst went back to his vehicle to retrieve towels to put over their faces
due to the smoke. When Darst returned, Werry had been in the smoke too long
and could not breathe and had to go outside. Darst and Hoffman continued to
try to get to Nicholas. Darst told Gallia County 911 to have the Gallipolis
VFD step it up regarding the trapped victim.
Darst, Werry and Hoffman made numerous attempts to reach the victim, but
due to the heat and smoke it was making them sick.
At about 9:08 p.m., a fire unit arrived on scene and did not have a
rescue pack to enter the upstairs, and after making numerous failed
attempts, they went to the rear of the building. Werry helped Hoffman climb
onto the roof of a shed that was attached to the apartment, beside Nicholas’
window. A fire department unit told Hoffman to break the window. Hoffman
could not get through to Nicholas from that approach.
Around 9:13 p.m., GVFD Chief Bob Poling arrived on scene and was advised
where Nicholas was located. Poling, along with the GVFD and Saxon, went
inside the apartment with the fire hose where Darst was located.
A short time later, Darst came out of the apartment with Nicholas. Darst
advised Werry that they were at the top of the steps when Saxon located
Nicholas. Saxon handed Nicholas to Darst and Poling. Darst brought Nicholas
outside to waiting Gallia EMS personnel, while Poling continued to fight the
fire.
Nicholas was transported to Holzer Medical Center and was airlifted to
Cabell Huntington Hospital.
Darst and Werry, along with Terry Watson, were treated at the scene for
smoke inhalation by Gallia EMT Mark Mohr.
Saxon has been a firemfighter for about seven years and felt a calling to
do this as he enjoys helping people. Brett’s wife is Lori and they have two
children.
Darst has been a deputy in Gallia County since 2000. Scott had always
wanted to be involved in law enforcement and joined the Gallia County
Sheriff’s Department after completing his military service. Scott’s wife is
Barbara and they have three children.
Werry has been a deputy for about 17 years and comes from a family with a
tradition of service in law enforcement. Kevin also has several friends
making a career in law enforcement. Kevin is married to Ellen and they have
two children.
Hoffman has been a trooper with the State Highway Patrol for about five
years. Nick became involved with the patrol due to the strong role model
exhibited by other members of the patrol. Nick is married to Tonette and
they have a brand new baby girl.
Article form
Gallipolis Daily Tribune 06-02-09 |
