Members Of Blue Angels Team Come To Aid Of Injured Motorist In Gary
(CBS) -- Members of the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels team came to the aid of an injured motorist in Gary last Thursday, according to a press release from the Blue Angels.
Seven members of the Blue Angels maintenance and support team encountered a vehicle that had crashed into a guard rail with an occupant trapped inside while driving from the Gary/Chicago International Airport, which serves as a staging area for the Chicago Air and Water Show this weekend.
The driver appeared to be unconscious and one member of the team broke the rear passenger window to provide aid to the motorist while others contacted emergency services and directed traffic.
"Everyone was calm, cool and collected the entire time," said Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class George Thiess. "We cleared the debris, put the vehicle in park and turned the engine off. Right after that, I immediately established 'c-spine' [prehospital cervical spinal immobilization] to prevent further injury."
Moments later, firefighters from Gary's Engine Company 8 arrived, surprised to see several Blue Angels in uniform around the van, and one inside it with the injured driver.
"He was in the backseat, holding the man's neck like that, so it wouldn't move and he stayed in that position until we get the door," said Gary Fire Captain Carlton Nichols.
Nichols said without the Blue Angels, the driver may have panicked and hurt himself worse. He said he was very impressed with Thiess.
"From his training, he did a great job," Nichols said. "Blue Angel really was an angel to help this guy out.
But Thiess says it was a team effort.
"It was good work done by all, especially the Gary Indiana Fire Department," Thiess said. "They responded and did a great job as well."
The motorist was taken to the hospital expected to be ok.
"All of the Sailors and Marines involved with this rescue did exactly what they are trained to do. I could not be more proud of each and every one of them," said Blue Angels Commanding Officer and Flight Leader Tom Frosch.
You can watch the Blue Angels perform during the 2015 Air & Water Show live on CBSChicago.com and listen on WBBM Newsradio 780/105.9.
