Red Cross honors local veteran for life saving act

The American Red Cross Southern Arizona chapter recognized a local resident Thursday for his heroic efforts back in October when a woman nearly lost her life.

The Red Cross honored David Bates with its certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action, an achievement obtained for someone who steps up in times of emergency to help save or sustain a life.

In October, Doreen Conner took a vacation with her family to celebrate her daughter’s birthday at Coronado Island in California. Doreen’s stepdaughter brought her boyfriend David, where they spent time swimming at the beaches.

“I am an avid wave jumper, I love it,” Said Doreen Conner. “All of the sudden, I look at the shoreline and I am really far away. I was getting beaten down by the waves.” Drifting further away from shore, Doreen became stranded.

Without hesitation, Bates jumped in to save her.

“She kind of gave out a little bit, was getting sucked away by the riptide, so I figured it’s going to be both of us getting out or none of us getting out,” David Bates said. “I grabbed her arm, grabbed her up, and dragged her all the way to the shoreline.”

Upon getting to shore, Doreen rested in relief, thankful to be back on dry land.

“It makes you really appreciate life,” Conner said. “I am grateful for someone who would risk their own life to save mine.”

Conner nominated Bates a month after the heroic event. “I wouldn’t be here, you know? I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you,” Conner said. She remembers telling Bates moments after the incident.

Conner credits his previous time spent in the military for his quick-acting response.

“After the time spent in the Army and deployments and such I kind of got a mentality of you don’t really leave anyone behind, so that wasn’t really an option,” he said.