Red Cross recognizes Real Heroes

South County employees and residents were among those honored Dec. 9 by the Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The honorees were showcased at the 15th annual Real Heroes Breakfast, held at the Tulalip Resort Casino. The event acknowledges the heroism of local individuals who have made a difference through acts of courage. More than 1,000 people were in attendance.

Nominations of Real Heroes were made by individuals in the community. Those honored included:

William Byerley, Gabe Benedetto, Erik McCaughan and Tyler Mayerchak

William Byerley, 21, an Edmonds resident and employee at Mill Creek Golf and Country Club’s restaurant, saw a woman’s car drive into a pond. Another man was also on the scene. The woman’s head was above water, but the car was sinking so the men pulled her out. At the same time Tyler Mayerchak, Erik McCaughan and Gabe Benedetto, then students at Archbishop Murphy High School, were driving along Village Green Drive when they saw the incident unfolding. They joined the efforts to help the 74-year-old Mill Creek woman. Once the woman was safely out of the water, Byerley returned to his job while the boys helped warm the woman inside Mayerchak’s car.

Eric Brunson, Kevin Kleyla, Greg Boland, Marc Lainhart and Dr. Duncan Riddell

He had no pulse and he wasn’t breathing, but Larry Carpenter is alive and doing well today thanks to the quick action of five men who came to his aid when he collapsed during his workout at Harbor Square Athletic Club in Edmonds. The team of club employees and clients saved Carpenter’s life by performing CPR and using an automatic external defibrillator to restore his heart rhythm. Carpenter regained consciousness and was talking with medics as they transported him to the former Stevens Hospital. This is the second time the AED at Harbor Square Athletic Club has been used to save a life.

Brunson is a Lynnwood resident; Kleyla, Riddell and Boland live in Edmonds. Lainhart comes from Marysville.

Linda Coan

Linda Coan, an employee at Premera in Mountlake Terrace, thought a meal with colleagues would be a chance to laugh and visit. Instead the Seattle resident saved a life as one of the company’s managers began coughing. With a couple of quick thrusts of the Heimlich maneuver, a piece of steak was dislodged and caught in a waiting napkin. This event remained a minor embarrassment, rather than a life-threatening emergency.

Brandi Scott, Raquel Geisler and Chuck Kern

Employees at the Mill Creek Fred Meyer remained calm and administered aid to a woman who had suffered a bad reaction to an allergy shot. Darcy Canseco considers herself lucky that when she went into anaphylactic shock she was near the checkout stand at the store. Employee Chuck Kern, an Everett resident, called 911 and relayed instructions from paramedics. Customer service manager Raquel Geisler, of Mukilteo, cradled Canseco’s head in her lap and kept her calm while Brandi Scott, of Lynnwood, and manager of the apparel department, sprinted to grab an epinephrine pen out of her purse.

Kingston D Watch (Capt. John Tullis, Seth Hamlin, Marjorie Ess and Libby Christie, Washington State Ferries)

Washington State Ferries crew members rescued two divers in distress at a dive park near the Edmonds Ferry terminal. They launched a rescue boat and recovered a motionless female diver. Crew members proceeded to the beach while performing CPR on the unresponsive woman. As a result of their efforts, the woman expelled the water and began breathing. Crew members then were called again moments later and immediately responded to a second distressed diver, who it turned out was the first diver’s husband. Kingston D Watch members were able to assist and transport him to shore.