If we get into a life-threatening situation, we believe an ambulance will be there to make sure we get the emergency care we need. But Monday morning, an ambulance didn’t come when a teen in Youngstown needed one the most. First responders had to think outside the box to save her life.
Just before 10 a.m., firefighters responded to a call for help at McKelvey Lake on the city’s east side. When they got there, rescue crews found a teen girl up to her waist in freezing cold water.
They wasted no time jumping into action.
“Roped off and the crew took my safety line, and I went out and pulled her back in and we assisted her back to the shore,” Lt. Tommy Gibbs said.
Thanks to the quick action of firefighters from Station 12, the girl was pulled from the lake in just minutes.
However, her rescue was interrupted because no ambulances were available to take her to the hospital.