Bravery award for firefighter
This award is a good gesture and it is very humbling to receive.
LEADING firefighter, Stu Jeacocks received an award for bravery from ER24.
The award is in recognition for an incident last month where the Toti firefighter and volunteer paramedic risked his own life to save a 15-year-old girl from drowning at Mnini beach.
Amanzimtoti Fire Services responded to a call-out after the girl was allegedly swept out to sea by a strong current and were the first to arrive.
They found one semi-conscious patient on the beach, while a second was swimming slowly towards the beach and made it back safely.
A third person was spotted floating close to the backline about 100m from the beach. Stu dove in, swam out to the backline and brought her back. ER24 paramedics found the girl’s vital signs were improving when they arrived to take over.
Unfortunately the girl died in hospital from her injuries, but that did not dimish the heroics of Stu, who did everything in his power to save her life.
“It was a big suprise to receive the award, especially from another service. It was unexpected. We do our job, which we get paid for, so we don’t expect to get rewarded, but it is nice when it happens,” said Stu.
we don’t expect to get rewarded, but it is nice when it happens
“This award represents everyone who was involved in the rescue as a whole, including my collegues from Toti Fire. I always say ‘There is no I in team’. Everyone is involved in a rescue, including the person who makes the call that gives us enough time to save someone.
That’s why I want to tell the public to make the call early, so that we can get the ball rolling to effect a rescue.
This award is a good gesture and it is very humbling to receive, as I do it to help people.”
