Monday, September 16, 2013
Two Local First Responders Honored During Annual Awards Ceremony
Two local men were honored during the annual First Responder Awards ceremony held in Nashville Friday, through the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
The ceremony is held annually during National Preparedness Month, marking the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States.
Terry Beecham with the Lawrenceburg Police Department and Brian Green with the Lawrenceburg Fire Department were among the honorees. Both were honored for the part they played in rescuing a family of four from Texas whose vehicle had crashed upside down in Shoal Creek in December of last year.
Officials speculated that driver Ashley Lancaster fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a guardrail on the South Locust Avenue bridge, causing the car to plummet into the waters below. Husband Richard Lancaster was able to quickly escape, followed shortly by wife Ashley. The couple’s sons, ages 7 and 4, were trapped inside the car.
The parents were working to extricate the four year old when police and firemen rushed to their aid. He was pulled from the waters and once it had been determined that he was not breathing, Beecham immediately initiated CPR until emergency medical personnel arrived.
The boy soon began to breathe on his own and was able to make a full recovery. Homeland Security officials pointed out that, “Beecham’s quick actions helped save the life of the young child.”
Green was honored for his part in the rescue of the seven year old boy, who remained trapped inside the car. While they worked to extricate him, Green went under the water and into the car, staying there to comfort and reassure him while the seatbelt was cut.
After a few failed attempts to get the child to try to exit, Green held him while others grabbed onto his feet, pulling them both to safety.
A total of twenty-eight first responders from the state’s eleven Homeland Security districts were honored during Friday’s ceremony, held at the state capitol.
