A Florida firefighter who saved a colleague after both were attacked by a patient with a box cutter last year has been named American Legion Firefighter of the Year for the state.
Jacksonville firefighter Vincent Harper received the honor for his role during a call in October, WJXT-TV reports. He and Capt. Capt. Latorrence Norris were taking a patient to the hospital in an ambulance when the man grabbed a box cutter from Norris' pocket.
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The patient slashed Norris across the stomach and chest several times, collapsing the firefighter's lung. Harper, who was driving the ambulance, pulled over near the hospital to try to stop the attack, but the patient cut Harper's thigh.
“I was on (the patient's) back, trying to choke him and find the knife at the same time,” Harper told WJXT in January. “And I grabbed the wrong arm thinking it was in the other hand. And he bucked off of me and came with the razor knife and came across my leg.”
Both firefighters were able to pin the patient down after he fell in a wheel well. Once police arrived, the firefighters were taken to the hospital for treatment.
“I would be dead right now There’s not a doubt in my mind," Norris told WJXT concerning his partner's actions.
Harper is second consecutive Jacksonville firefighter from Station 2 to receive the American Legion's honor. Lt. Henry Carrow was honored last year, WJXT added.
In January, Harper, a 10-year veteran, received the Joseph F. Stichway Award, which honors the department's firefighter of the year.
