Heroes abound in Newport-Mesa

Deepa Bharath

Newport Beach Paramedic Brian Slater took care of people most of his

life.

He comforted people, tended to their injuries and a lot of times,

saved their lives.

But on Aug. 30, Slater’s colleagues, some of whom he had mentored,

rescued him after he was found floating face down in waist-deep water

near the Colton Street beach. Slater was with his family on a day off

during the Labor Day weekend.

Newport Beach Lifeguards Rob Williams, Alex Scurr and Brian Gray

as well as paramedics Ty Lunde and Keith Winokur along with Fire

Capt. Cliff Geddis saved Slater’s life with their prompt response and

top-notch care. This team has been nominated for the American Red

Cross’ Bravo for Bravery awards, which will be handed out during a

special event on April 27.

Costa Mesa is not without its heroes. Fire Chief Jim Ellis and his

son, Kevin Ellis, who works with an ambulance company in Fullerton,

have also been nominated for pulling a man out of a burning car

minutes after a traffic collision in Aliso Viejo on Feb. 21.

The Ellises were driving home after dinner with friends and

happened to stumble upon the accident scene.

Jim Ellis said he and his son feel “honored” by the nomination.

“We were blessed to be there and to have been able to have rescued

that man,” he said. “We never made contact with him, but learned from

the paramedics that he was going to make it through the injuries and

that he was going to live.

“That was all I needed to know -- that we were fortunate enough to

have been able to make that difference and that he’ll live.”

The Fire Chief will also be presented at Monday’s City Council

meeting with a proclamation Monday as “Jim Ellis Day” for his

achievements in Costa Mesa and his act of courage.

As for Slater, he has retired after 29 years with the Newport

Beach Fire Department and is still recovering.

Lunde, who was part of the team that rescued Slater, said they

struggled with emotional issues while working on the man who is their

friend, colleague and mentor.

Slater was Lunde’s high school instructor in the emergency medical

technician program at Orange Coast College.

“Our profession demands that we keep calm in all situations,”

Lunde said. “But with Brian, all of us had to make a concerted effort

to keep calm. I had to take a minute, take a deep breath and center

myself before I attended to him.”

Lunde said the award was “nice,” but that he and others were only

doing their job.

“Anybody in my position would’ve done the same thing,” he said.