Florida Responders Honored for Daring Water Rescue

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. -- With an elderly couple stranded on top of their SUV and up to their necks in floodwater, firefighter Gus Morales gave little hesitation before plunging in and swimming out to rescue them before they could be swept away during Tropical Storm Debby.

With waters already more than nine feet high and quickly flowing down Wiscon Road, he and other rescuers responding to the couple's vehicle going off road could barely see the pair that night as rain continued to pour down on them.

Fellow Brooksville firefighters and police officers held a rope attached to Morales and his life vest while, in two trips, he swam out to grab each of the stranded motorists.

While swimming to each of the victims, Morales said it was easier because he was swimming with the current. However, he needed his fellow firefighters to pull him back.

He said he was barely able to get to the stranded man before he was swept away.

City Fire Chief Tim Mossgrove said he arrived on scene just as Morales pulled the last flood victim to safety. He said the rescue, which occurred not a moment too soon, took 10 to 15 minutes.

"If (Morales) hadn't gotten him to safety, he surely would have drowned," Mossgrove said. "I've been doing this for 27 years, and I don't remember ever having that sick feeling in knowing that the couple could have been swept away."

Capt. William Kaplan, who also participated in the rescue, approached Mossgrove and described to him Morales and other rescuers' display of bravery and teamwork. Mossgrove agreed that the group should be honored for their heroic rescue in light of making quick life-and-death decisions while working in 30-mile-per-hour winds and pouring down rain.

It's for that reason the group received the Meritorious Service Ribbon, given to those who endure great risk in the line of duty.

Those honored other than Morales and Kaplan include:

--Firefighter Kevin Rittenhouse, with Hernando County;

--City Fire Capt. Samuel Schey;

--Firefighter Chris Portzen;

--Driver/engineer Hillary Sanford;

--Police Sgt. Josh Caldwell;

--Police Lt. Jason Brough.

The group was honored with the award during the Aug. 20 city council meeting and each wears a ribbon on his and her uniform.

Mossgrove said with another tropical storm heading this way, his firefighters are ready in case they have to face the same scenario.

"They'd jump in and do it again," Mossgrove said. "We're just really fortunate with how things played out that day, otherwise there would have been serious injury or death. But quick thinking and teamwork really made that rescue possible."

Copyright 2012 - Hernando Today, Brooksville, Fla.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service