Firecracker 10K: Aptos
firemen help save fellow runner
By Tom Moore, Santa Cruz Sentinel Online Edition
July 5th, 2005
SANTA CRUZ — Lloyd Anderson went down at the
right place.
Running in the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Firecracker
10k Monday, Anderson of Fremont suffered a heart attack
and fell early in the race near the pool at Harvey
West Park.
Before he hit the ground, he was in the hands of
the Aptos/La Selva Beach Fire District. Captain Jeremy
Gilbert was running with six other from the department.
Gilbert caught Anderson, 74, before he hit the pavement.
"I saw him start to stumble and he kind of bounced
off a car. I tried to break his fall," Gilbert
said.
Gilbert said Anderson was still breathing for about
a minute before going into respiratory arrest.
Paramedic Mike Kretsch ran to the first aid station
to grab a defibrillator while paramedic Ryan Peters
performed chest compressions. Sunrise Rotary member
Charlie Verutti had brought his own defibrillator
to the race, almost as an afterthought.
Captain Mike Martin, paramedic Trevor Dirksen and
firefighter Rick Molinar also assisted in reviving
Anderson. Kretsch shocked Anderson and the team was
able to restore a heartbeat at the scene and send
him to the hospital.
Their job done, the Aptos-La Selva Beach team continued
the race. All six finished at 1 hour, 15 minutes,
53 seconds. After the race, they lobbied for a time
adjustment.
Anderson, who was running the race with his daughter
from Washington, was in stable condition at Dominican
Hospital Monday afternoon. |
