Critically Injured young man reunited with his Rescuers

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Critically Injured young man reunited with his rescuers On 17 August 2007, Bethany Beach Fire Company was alerted for rescue apparatus along with Millville Fire Company’s Ambulance for a pedestrian struck on Route #1 at 9th Street in South Bethany Beach. Due to the categories of calls being received, Sussex County Paramedics and Delaware State Police were already altered and in route to the accident scene. Bethany Beach Fire Company personnel set up perimeter to permit for a protected landing zone for the helicopter along with maintaining traffic control. Ben Sawczuck, now 16 years old, had been struck and critically injured while riding a bike. Young Ben still has no memory of the collision that day. Ben was transported by Delaware State Police Medevac Helicopter to Johns Hopkins Pediatric Unit in Baltimore City, Maryland. Today, Ben, his mother, Joanne Sawczuck and father Dave Sawczuck, of Alexandria, Virginia, were back in Bethany Beach and were reunited with their son’s rescuers from that warm August day. Sussex County Paramedics, Captain Jeff Cox, Lieutenant Brian McConlouge, Sergeant Jonathan Offen, then EMT Amy Wiilie, now R.N. were affectionately greeted by Ben and his parents at the Bethany Beach Fire Headquarters. There was a lot of embracing, hand-shaking and acknowledgements being shared by Ben, his parents and the rescue personnel. Mr. Sawczuck declared Johns Hopkins medical personal stated that the life-sustaining treatment afforded by the Sussex Paramedics and Millville’s Ambulance crew at the scene resulted in Ben’s successful recovery. The paramedics and fire personnel were exceptionally grateful for the magnitude of comments rendered by the Sawczuck family. Chief Brian Martin, BBVFC, presented Ben with several tee-shirts and a fire cap embossed with the BBVFC Logo. Bob Powell was in attendance to represent the Millville Fire Company. In addition to these surprise gifts and all those personnel who attended, Captain Cox presented Ben with a framed photograph of the accident scene while he was being placed into the helicopter.