Everyday Heroes Recognized for Life-saving Actions

Shown at the ceremony in Rockville are (l to r) Lohr, Andrews, Uniformed Services University Second Lieutenant Weymouth and Ensign Hunt, Leggett and Montgomery College security officers Rodriquez and Wilson. Not pictured is hero Walter Lopez.

Five ordinary people who took extraordinary actions to save lives and help others in three separate incidents were recognized recently as “everyday heroes” by County Executive Ike Leggett, County Councilmember Phil Andrews and Fire Chief Steven E. Lohr.

During the derecho in June 2012, Walter Lopez rescued a woman trapped in her car after a tree fell on it. She was bleeding profusely and could not lift her head due to the crushed roof of the vehicle. Lopez pulled her through the passenger side window and drove her to Suburban Hospital. He used towels and clothing to make a compress to slow the bleeding. The Bethesda resident survived and has since recovered from her head injuries.

In March of this year, Montgomery College (Rockville Campus) security officers Yasmel Rodriquez and Jeff Wilson arrived on scene to assist an unconscious student. They quickly assessed the situation and, using the Automatic External Defibrillator they had brought, immediately began CPR on the student who survived and is doing well today.

In July, a vehicle drove though the front of Sam’s Club in Gaithersburg striking two men who were in the food court. One suffered a severe leg wound. Uniformed Services University Ensign John Hunt and Second Lieutenant Wells Weymouth, who happened to be in the store, arrived to help. Using their belts to try and stop the bleeding, they stabilized the victim until paramedics arrived. Their quick actions were instrumental in the man’s survival.

See media coverage of the event by Channel 7; Channel 4; and WTOP.