Nassau County residents showed their heroic side time and time again
in 2012, saving the lives of many other residents in the process. In no
specific order, here are the best examples of heroism that Nassau had
to offer this year.
Garden City Father, Son Save Elderly Man From Burning Home:
An 87-year-old man was rescued from a burning Garden City home by a
Garden City father and son Monday night during Hurricane Sandy. One of
the man's rescuers, 53-year-old off-duty FDNY captain Frank Leto, told Newsday,
he was in his Garden City home when he heard a boom. He went to
investigate what had happened and saw flames from a Kenwood Road home.
After learning that an 87-year-old man was still inside the home, Frank
and his son Matthew found an opening and got to the him. Frank pulled
the man out and handed him to his son, according to Newsday.
Long Beach Surfing Instructor Rescues RVC Teens:
Cliff Skudin, a co-operator of the surfing school Skudin Surf, along
with an unidentified good Samaritan, rescued three Rockville Centre
teens from drowning near a jetty off Long Beach Boulevard Beach back in
May. At the time, Skudin was giving a private surfing lesson and walking
along the beach toward Monroe Boulevard when he heard the trio, who
were about 50 to 100 yards out in the ocean, yell for help.
Infant Saved by Fire Department Volunteers:
Back in May, units from the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department were
summoned to Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst for a child not breathing. The
infant was lifeless upon arrival, however, was successfully revived
through a true team effort of first responders. Once stabilized, the
infant was transferred to LIJ Children's Hospital for further care.
Bellmore Firefighter Honored for Saving Life During Blaze:
John Curley, of the Bellmore Fire Department, risked his own life days
after Hurricane Sandy to rescue a 93-year-old woman from the second
story of a Shore Road home that had caught on fire. Curley climbed up
the jury-rigged ladder and, after breaking the window of the mother’s
room with his bare hands, plunged head-long into the burning home.
Moments later, he emerged, carrying the woman out with him.
State Troopers Save Merrick Man's Life:
Two New York State Police officers saved the life of a Merrick man
after he collapsed on the Wantagh Parkway Bike Path back in August.
Trooper Thomas Wallace responded applied his Automated External
Defibrillator (AED) device to the victim, Martin Gottlieb, 60, of
Merrick, who was not breathing, police said. With the assistance of
Trooper David Augugliaro, who was performing CPR, Gottlieb regained his
pulse and was transported to Nassau University Medical Center.
Lynbrook Firefighters Honored for Saving Toddler:
When an 18-month-old toddler had trouble breathing while visiting his
grandmother's house in Lynbrook last spring, Lynbrook Fire Chief
Anthony DeCarlo and Firefighter Josh Parsons came to the rescue. When
the incident happened on April 11, the firemen were the first on the
scene and transported the toddler to South Nassau Community Hospital in
DeCarlo’s vehicle.
Lynbrook Firefighters Save Home, Dog from Blaze:
Lynbrook firefighters rescue a dog was hiding inside a home that
caught fire shortly after power was restored to the block following
Hurricane Sandy.
Lifeguards Save Boy's Life at Veterans Memorial Park:
An 8-year-old boy was rescued after he stopped breathing in the deep
end of the pool at Veterans Memorial Park back in July, according to ABC
News. Lifeguard Christina Marie saw the boy floating in the deep end
and dove in to get him. After pulling the boy out, Marie and lifeguard
Stephen Foran worked on resuscitation efforts that ended up being
successful.
I nominate the members of the Knights of Columbus in the West End.
many suffered severe damage to their own homes yet made time to help strangers in need.
They did so without need for fanfare or accolades. Just plain common decency.
They set the tone for Long Beach and gave us all a standard to reach for.
When the rebuild starts on their burned out HQs on Minnesota Ave I URGE all decent folks to pay them back via a days hard work if possible or just a word of encouragement if that is all you have to give.
For those that were unable to help during the first days of the crisis you will have another chance bu helping the Knights when the real work begins.
I choose to nominate all my courageous fellow Americans who chose to help themselves during the hard times created by hurricane Sandy. They are true blue-blood Americans who DID NOT count on the goverement to bail them out of trouble. In particular, the people of the 'West End' of Long Beach and the 'Western' Rockaways who formed groups & walked up & down streets helping their fellow Americans. No wide-spread looting and very little crime. Unlike New Orleans where it was WAIT for hand-out/blame George/wait for more hand-outs and blame George again, these people (who actually pay taxes for the FEMA funding many still haven't recieved) took it upon themselves to do the dirty work. For that, they are TRUE AMERICAN HEROES!!!
Natalie. I am so sorry to read this. I too have a little 5 yr. old dog who I love desperately...…Read More and I feel your pain. There is another website for an organization that does an amazing job finding lost pets. It's LOSTMYDOGGIE.COM There is a small fee, but they get signs up all over the area and have a phone system set up where everyone in the area of where she was lost gets a PHONE CALL ALERT message to watch for Molly. They leave a phone number and their website address so if anyone has seen her or has her they know where to call. Great system! Check it out! I've never used them, but I HAVE received calls myself recently on 2 separate lost dogs and I've seen the many photos they hung up in my area in Levittown for dogs lost within a few miles of this area. In other words, they DO what they say they will do to help find Molly. Just want you to know what is out there to help you bring Molly home. My grandkids go to school around Grand and Camp Ave. We'll be watching for her! God Bless and good luck! I'm sure she will be returned to you real soon!!
many suffered severe damage to their own homes yet made time to help strangers in need. They did so without need for fanfare or accolades. Just plain common decency. They set the tone for Long Beach and gave us all a standard to reach for. When the rebuild starts on their burned out HQs on Minnesota Ave I URGE all decent folks to pay them back via a days hard work if possible or just a word of encouragement if that is all you have to give. For those that were unable to help during the first days of the crisis you will have another chance bu helping the Knights when the real work begins.