Local first responders and a group of Davis- Monthan Air Force Base airmen were honored Wednesday for recent life-saving efforts and acts of bravery.
The 11th annual Heroes Day awards ceremony recognized crew members from D-M, the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Police Department, the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety, the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Fire Department and the Northwest Fire District, a Banner-University Medical Center news release said. Here are brief summaries of the incidents:
- In July, the 48th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan rescued stranded fishermen after a crane collapsed on their vessel off the coast of Mexico. Capt. John P. Connor commanded the nine-man team during the rescue. Senior Airman Raul A. Martinez, a primary medic and translator on the team, provided multiple life-saving medical interventions and translated crucial patient information. First Lt. Jorge I. Pala led two airdrops and one resupply drop. The team dove into the ocean to save the two fishermen and spent 58 hours performing life-saving medical care, teleconferencing with neurosurgeons and communicating with Mexican authorities during the rescue effort, the news release said.
- Capt. Chris Kelaher, of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Fire Department, and Brett Bradshaw, a firefighter, rescued a person pinned facedown in a tree by a heavy limb nearly 30 feet above ground. Kelaher and Bradshaw used harnesses and climbed 35-foot ladders to bring the person to safety.
- Deputy Fire Marshal Ian Robinson, of the Northwest Fire District, came upon a crash on Interstate 10 while he was off duty. Robinson called for assistance, then stabilized three people who were injured and one who was in critical condition until a rescue crew arrived.
- Troopers Alexander Woytenko, Robert Palmer, Corey Minnix, Cesar Fimbres and Michael Blute, of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety, rescued a driver trapped in a burning car after a crash. The troopers freed the driver moments before the car was engulfed.
- Trooper David Rocha, of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety, risked his life by entering an overturned RV on Interstate 8 to free its occupants, including a child.
- Officers Noah Wade and Michael Cooper, with the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Police Department, found a burning apartment while responding to a call about a fight. The officers found people around a person stabbed in the leg. The officers applied a tourniquet to the life-threatening injury and moved people away from the fire.
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Photos: 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

Corey Minnix, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety trooper, smiles while talking to his wife Samantha Minnix after the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019.
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety trooper David Rocha, left, holds his award while taking a picture with fellow troopers during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019.
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

Jorge Pala, first lieutenant in Davis Monthan Air Force Base's 79th rescue squadron, smiles after being honored during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019. Â
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

Jenna Mitchell, lieutenant colonel of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Highway patrol, smiles while listening to a speech during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019.
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety troopers smile for a photo in front of family, friends and fellow first responders during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019.
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety trooper David Rocha, smiles after wining an award and being honored during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019. Rocha received a Heroes Day award for saving a family from a overturned RV.Â
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

Raul Martinez, senior airman for Davis Monthan Air Force Base's 48th rescue squadron, center, poses for a photo with fellow honorees, Captain John Connor with the 48th rescue squadron and First Lieutenant Jorge Pala with the 76th rescue squadron during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019. Martinez, Pala and Connor received Heroes Day awards for rescuing fisherman who were stranded after a crane collapsed on their boat in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico.
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

Davis Monthan Air Force Base lieutenant colonel Ryan Pearce speaks during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019.
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

Tyler O'Sick, Highway patrol sergeant for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety, talks with fellow troopers during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019.
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Police Department officer Noah Wade, left, waits backstage with fellow officer Michael Cooper during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019. Wade and Cooper received a Heroes Day award for saving an individuals life with a life-threatening stab wound in the leg.Â
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

Robert Palmer, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety trooper, center, takes a photo with his kids Emily Palmer, 11, and Rhett Palmer, 13, during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019. Palmer, along with 5 other ADPS troopers received Heroes Day awards for saving the life of a driver from a burning car.Â
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

Alex Woytenko, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety trooper, shakes hands with Sean Furrier, manger of Jack Furrier Tires and Auto Care after being honored at the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019.
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Fire Department captain James Kelaher, left, and TFD firefighter Brett Bradshaw smile while being honored during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019. Kelaher and Bradshaw received Heroes Day awards of distinction after saving a climber stuck in a tree 30 feet in the air.Â
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

Northwest Fire District Deputy Fire Marshal Ian Robinson, 2nd from the left, poses for a photo with Sean Furrier, manger of Jack Furrier Tires and Auto Care, Dr. Andrew Tang, medical director of Level 1 Trauma Center at Banner Medical Center, and Dan Marries, KOLF news 13 anchor, during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019. Robinson recieved a Heroes Day award of distinction for responding to a crash and stabilized injured individuals while off-duty.Â
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

Raul Martinez, senior airman for Davis Monthan Air Force Base's 48th rescue squadron, holds his award during the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019.Â
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Police Department officer Michael Cooper smiles during a posed photo at the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019.
11th annual 2019 Heroes Day

Cesar Fimbres, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Department of Public Safety trooper, smiles with fellow troopers and family after the 11th annual 2019 Heroes Day award ceremony at La Encantada shopping center, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on October 6th, 2019.