VIDEO: About four seconds was the difference between life and death on May 31 when an unconscious man awoke to Manatee County medical first responders trying to help him and pulled out a loaded gun.
“I had no choice but to go for the gun,” said Manatee County Paramedic Carlos Santos.
Santos’ quick reaction, along with his partner, EMT Joe Savasta, and nearby sheriff’s deputies, prevented what could have been a tragic day. Santos and Savasta responded to a call about an unconscious man inside his vehicle at the traffic light at 2600 53rd Ave. W.
After several failed attempts to get the man’s attention with verbal commands, the two EMS employees got inside the vehicle by breaking the back window and immediately began to check if the man was having a medical emergency.