Teen rescued by APS employee visits fire station
On Monday, the Somerton Cocopah Fire station got a surprise visit from a teen that was rescued by first responders in a recent incident.
According to Paul De Anda , Fire Chief, on May 19th , 2017 Jesus and a friend were traveling southbound, on an all-terrain vehicle near the ” T ” intersection between of the Somerton Canal (Avenue E) and the County 17th Main Drain.
After striking a cement canal piping cover, they were launched into the air, into the Main Drainage Canal.
David Hooker, an Arizona Public Service employee was eating lunch in his service vehicle and saw the incident.
Hooker ran, approximately 25 feet , down the very steep canal and pulled the two boys to the bank until first responders arrived.
Two of the SCFD members (Engineer, Israel Carbajal , and Firefighter, Anthony Burruel ) who responded that day were on shift when Jesus came by to visit.
According to De Anda , the accident was so serious that the recovery by Jesus is considered a miracle by those who responded and treated him that day.
De Anda said, ” this visit was a reminder to all the SCFD personnel that what they do is important but in the end, the fight to live and recover remains in the hands of the people that we treat. ”
