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Off-duty Minn. paramedic honored for saving lives

Paramedic Mark Weidberg was driving home from work when he saw a vehicle had veered into a ditch

By EMS1 Staff

SCOTT COUNTY, Minn. — A paramedic was recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty while he was off-duty last year.

Paramedic Mark Weidberg was driving home from work when he saw a crash scene Feb. 14, 2015, reported FOX9. Weidberg said he immediately pulled over to help after a vehicle had lost control on the slippery highway and veered into a ditch. A 5-year-old girl was ejected from the vehicle and died. The other six passengers in the vehicle survived.

“They hit the patch of black ice, rolled and it just happened so quickly and unexpectedly,” Linda Johnson, whose family was in the crash, said. “It was just quick and horrifying, and one was ejected.”

Although firefighters had arrived at the scene, Weidberg decided to render aid; he was the only paramedic on scene until an ambulance arrived.

“That was a tougher one because of the emotion on scene, trying not to involve myself with that,” Weidberg said. “I put blinders on and got to work. That’s what I did.”

Weidberg was recognized for his actions Tuesday and presented with an award thanking him for risking his own life.

“It was pretty special,” he said. “I’m proud of it, proud to accept it for everyone.”

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