Danny Federico
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
First responders spoke with WTXL Tallahassee's Ashley Engle on Friday, Sept. 8, regarding a call for help that came to them on Wednesday, Aug. 30, when Hurricane Idalia unleashed her fury upon Live Oak.
"It's one of those calls that actually will go down in history because you don't actually get a call like that every day," Matthew Lamendola, Suwannee Fire Rescue (SFR) Captain, said during the interview.
The hurricane's wrath had descended upon Suwannee County, with relentless winds and chaos reigning supreme. First responders had already ceased operations due to the intensifying storm but then came a desperate plea for help.
"There's a tree fallen on our house. It's in my grandpa's room. Please send help," the 9- 1-1 call reports. A second voice then comes over the phone with a chilling plea. "The roof fell in, and my dad is underneath the debris."
A man's life hung in the balance in the face of Hurricane Idalia's fury. The high winds made responding to such calls a risky endeavor. Suwannee County Fire Chief Eddie Hand recalled the challenging circumstances. "Our response is shut down when we reach 45 miles per hour sustained winds," he said. "When this call came in, we had already ceased operations 10 to 15 minutes prior to receiving the call."
Chief Hand and Live Oak Fire Chief Sid Hayes faced a dilemma in the dire situation. It was undeniably dangerous, but they understood there was only one choice: to save a life, regardless of the impending danger. The crew didn't hesitate; they geared up for an extraordinary mission.
"Chief Hayes and Chief Hand were talking about it, and Chief Hayes asked me, and I was like, 'Crews are there, let's send them. We can do this,'" said Kyle Nickerson, Assistant Chief of the Live Oak Fire Department. En route to the scene, the rescue team was acutely aware of the risks they were taking, yet their commitment to saving a life overshadowed their fear. "Trees were coming down all around the house," Nickerson continued. "So, as far as the crews, there was a concern for the crews in the house for more trees coming down."
Upon arrival, responders discovered a man trapped beneath a fallen tree in his home. The tree had landed on his leg, pinning him to his bed by the immense weight of nature's fury.
"Once we got there, I was kind of just focused on getting him out and didn't really think about the storm or the winds or anything," said Zack Smith with SFR.
The valiant efforts of first responders and assistance from the Live Oak National Guard culminated in a 45-minute battle to free the trapped man. Once freed, the patient was rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
"We have a great team, great leaders, who kept everybody on track on how we need to actually do the job," said SFR Cpt. Lamendola.
"The lifting of the tree to get the patient out was a full-on collaborative effort between the two departments," Nickerson added.
There is no update on the condition of the man they saved. However, what remains certain is the unwavering commitment and bravery displayed by both SFR and the Live Oak Fire Department. Alongside the Live Oak National Guard, these heroes disregarded their safety to protect a life when it mattered most. In the face of Hurricane Idalia's fury, they showed that sometimes, in the worst of storms, the human spirit shines the brightest.