Heroes abound in Newport-Mesa
- Share via
Deepa Bharath
Newport Beach Paramedic Brian Slater took care of people most of his
life.
He comforted people, tended to their injuries and a lot of times,
saved their lives.
But on Aug. 30, Slater’s colleagues, some of whom he had mentored,
rescued him after he was found floating face down in waist-deep water
near the Colton Street beach. Slater was with his family on a day off
during the Labor Day weekend.
Newport Beach Lifeguards Rob Williams, Alex Scurr and Brian Gray
as well as paramedics Ty Lunde and Keith Winokur along with Fire
Capt. Cliff Geddis saved Slater’s life with their prompt response and
top-notch care. This team has been nominated for the American Red
Cross’ Bravo for Bravery awards, which will be handed out during a
special event on April 27.
Costa Mesa is not without its heroes. Fire Chief Jim Ellis and his
son, Kevin Ellis, who works with an ambulance company in Fullerton,
have also been nominated for pulling a man out of a burning car
minutes after a traffic collision in Aliso Viejo on Feb. 21.
The Ellises were driving home after dinner with friends and
happened to stumble upon the accident scene.
Jim Ellis said he and his son feel “honored” by the nomination.
“We were blessed to be there and to have been able to have rescued
that man,” he said. “We never made contact with him, but learned from
the paramedics that he was going to make it through the injuries and
that he was going to live.
“That was all I needed to know -- that we were fortunate enough to
have been able to make that difference and that he’ll live.”
The Fire Chief will also be presented at Monday’s City Council
meeting with a proclamation Monday as “Jim Ellis Day” for his
achievements in Costa Mesa and his act of courage.
As for Slater, he has retired after 29 years with the Newport
Beach Fire Department and is still recovering.
Lunde, who was part of the team that rescued Slater, said they
struggled with emotional issues while working on the man who is their
friend, colleague and mentor.
Slater was Lunde’s high school instructor in the emergency medical
technician program at Orange Coast College.
“Our profession demands that we keep calm in all situations,”
Lunde said. “But with Brian, all of us had to make a concerted effort
to keep calm. I had to take a minute, take a deep breath and center
myself before I attended to him.”
Lunde said the award was “nice,” but that he and others were only
doing their job.
“Anybody in my position would’ve done the same thing,” he said.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.