2009 Real Heroes Breakfast
Congratulations to our 2009 Real Heroes! On April 14, over 500 guests attended the Real Heroes Breakfast to honor these incredible everyday heroes for their lifesaving acheivements.
Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for the 2010 Real Heroes Breakfast. Learn more here .
2009 Cast of Heroes
Youth Good Samaritan- Samuel Okitkun, Kotlik, Sponsored by: First National Bank Alaska
There is a popular ice-fishing spot about a quarter mile out from Kotlik. Bernard Hunt had been there, without mishap, more times than he could count, but one day, when the ice was thinner than usual, he found himself nearly drowning in the freezing current of the Yukon River. Luckily, Samuel Okitkun, 18, was there to pull him out of the river and save his life.
Adult Good Samaritan- Frank Kirk & Trayton Cohen, Wasilla , Sponsored by: ASRC Energy Services
When Frank Kirk passed the Mile 101 marker on the Glenn Highway at 5 a.m in late March 2008, he knew something didn't feel right, and turned his truck around. At a break in the guardrail he looked down a steep embankment to find a man hanging upside down, trapped in his car and bleeding from his head. Prying the passenger door open with a nearby tree branch, he and his stepson Trayton Cohen got the man out and up to emergency crews, saving his life.
Wilderness Rescue- Kodiak Island Search and Rescue Team, Kodiak , Sponsored by: Petrotechnical Resources Alaska
Pat Schmalix of Kodiak Island Search and Rescue says, “I like going out and playing in bad weather.” That’s a good thing for the four stranded construction workers on the summit of Sharatin Mountain who were struggling for survival when a swift blizzard rolled in, ripping their tents apart and burying them and their gear deep beneath the snow. Thirteen grueling hours later, Schmalix's rescue team and the four men finally made it back down.
Marine Rescue- Steve Mahay, Talkeetna, Sponsored by: Dowland-Bach
When a father and son struggled against the strong, icy current of the Talkeetna River , trapped underneath their overturned boat, the Alaska State Troopers knew who to call: Steve Mahay of Mahay’s Riverboat Service. Using his boat, an anchor line and a prayer he successfully flipped the boat right-side-up and plucked the exhausted and hypothermic men from the treacherous waters. He credits this rescue to divine intervention.
Education in Action- Denali National Park Talkeetna Rangers, Dr. Jennifer Dow and Rangers Mik Shain and Brandon Latham, Talkeetna , Sponsored by: Alaska Regional Hospital
When first time Denali climber Claude Ratte fell 2000 feet onto the top of a virtually inaccessible glacier, the Denali National Park Talkeetna Rangers had to use their knowledge to get him stabilized and off the mountain safely. Through their thorough training schedule, their quick and organized response, and their innovative techniques, Dr. Jennifer Dow, Mik Shain, and Brandon Latham represent education in action.
Military Rescue- U.S. Coast Guard Crew of the Munro, Kodiak , Sponsored by: Kakivik Asset Management Services
As Alaskans, we don’t need reminders about how dangerous the ocean is. We know the risks when we send our loved ones out to sea, whether it be to catch the seafood delicacies Alaska is known for ,or to protect our waters and shores. When the Alaska Ranger, a commercial marine vessel, began sinking in March of last year, forty-two men were plucked from the water by the US Coast Guard in one of this year’s largest rescues.
Community Safety- Jeremy Manley, Wasilla , Sponsored by: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
The simple virtue of being trained in CPR allowed Jeremy Manley, a cab driver at the time, to save the life of Janet Shorey when she stopped breathing on the way to a medical appointment. Community members like Jeremy Manley never know when their training will be needed, but are always prepared to help when it is.
Workplace Safety- Jimmie Tulik, Bethel , Sponsored by: ConocoPhillips Alaska
When sixth-grade student Brandi Dull began choking on her lunch, teacher’s aide Jimmie Tulik used his recent first aid training to save her life. He stood behind her and gently, but firmly thrust his fist against her abdomen twice, dislodging the piece of meat from her throat. Tulik’s gentility, patience, and training make him the first person many children at Nightmute School turn to in times of crisis.
Fire Rescue- Lt. Ray Ellis, Kodiak, Sponsored by: International Fire Fighters Union 1264
When police officer Lt. Ray Ellis heard a downstairs window break in his building, he went to find the cause and discovered the raging fire blocking the exit from Michella Putney’s apartment. He quickly went inside and helped Putney’s children and babysitter escape through a laundry room window, saving the lives of seven people.
Medical Rescue- Skye Ahrens and Jared Peace, Anchorage , Sponsored by: BP
On January 1, CH2MHill truck driver Tim Van Nest was found unconscious and not breathing on the bathroom floor in the Arctic Oil Field. Jared Peace, the AOH Purcell night security guard and a trained EMT, and Skye Ahrens, a CH2M Hill Billing Specialist responded, performed CPR, and used an AED on Tim until paramedics arrived. Through the responsible and aggressive actions of Skye and Jared, Tim Van Nest's life was saved.
