| Name: | Kyle Haemker |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Bradley Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| Type of Duty: | Vehicle rescue, Water rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Honor |
| Year of Award: | 2023 |
| Incident City: | Bradley |
| Year of Incident: | 2022 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Traffic accidents |
Bradley Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic Kyle Haemker was awarded the Medal of Honor for rescuing a fully submerged driver from a vehicle in a retention pond.
On December 14, 2022, off-duty firefighter Kyle Haemker was on his way to the office to finish paperwork when he received notification of a single-vehicle accident at a retention pond outside a retirement community. Haemker, who only lives about thirty seconds away from the location of the incident, quickly drove over to the pond and was the first person to arrive at the scene.
Upon arrival, witnesses told Haemker that the driver was still in the fully submerged vehicle. Haemker alerted dispatch that he was affecting a rescue which led dispatch to upgrade the alarm to a dive box. Haemker entered the water with no equipment. He found the driver with the window down, still wearing his seatbelt, and trying to reach a possible air pocket at the roof of the vehicle. Haemker reached into the car to unbuckle the driver before pulling him out and to the surface. Haemker swam himself and the victim to shore where they were immediately met by paramedics and treated for freezing temperatures. Haemker later learned that the victim had previously suffered a stroke, limiting the use of the right side of his body and making it difficult for him to unbuckle himself amidst the panic. Haemker’s quick actions saved the life of the driver. After the incident, Haemker drove to the office to finish his paperwork.
Citations:
2023 IL Fallen Firefighter Memorial And MOH Ceremony.
Vimeo, uploaded by Crowdson Creative Video, 11 May 2023, vimeo.com/825948365/5148b7d371.