LEHI, Utah — A Lehi firefighter and paramedic was honored for going above and beyond the call of duty in his response to an injured hiker.
Ryan Kimball, who serves on both the Lehi City Fire Department and Utah County’s Intermountain Life Flight, was working at the former when he was dispatched to American Fork Canyon for a helicopter response to a hiker who was having chest pains, KSL.com reports.
The hiker, Rick Ellison, and his son were in steep terrain. The helicopter did not have hoist equipment and could only land about 50 feet away, so Kimball hiked to the area and reached the man just as he went into cardiac arrest.
“I was the only one up there for a little while before more rescuers could be there with me,” Kimball said. “He did have a period where he lost consciousness and (me and the son) had to start compressions while I got the defibrillator set up to deliver a shock, which his heart needed at that moment and time.”
Kimball treated him until another medical helicopter with hoist equipment arrived on the scene.
“It was very fast-paced and very high-speed,” Kimball said. “The hoist paramedic, when he landed to pick up the patient, could tell that I was exhausted mentally.”
Ellison was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, and has made a full recovery. Kimball and he have stayed in touch.
“For me, being able to feel like I helped preserve a life for other family members to be able to spend more quality time with, that’s important to me,” Kimball said. “It feels good to be able to help someone when they need it most.”
He was awarded with American Fork Chamber of Commerce’s Life Saving Award.
“The professionalism displayed by Ryan Kimball is a tremendous reflection on himself, the Lehi City Fire Department and Life Flight,” Lehi City spokesperson Robert Ranc said in a news release. “Ryan is a great example of the kind of skill and courage possessed by our first responders. We are grateful to have people like Ryan that keep our communities safe.”