Airmen rescue motorcyclist from raging fire

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  As the fire quickly consumed the four-foot-tall crops and anything in its path, Chief Master Sgt. James Eggers knew what he had to do. His first priority was to locate the motorcyclist lying somewhere in the field, and fast.

It was late July when Chief Eggers, 31st Medical Group superintendent, was traveling through Germany with his family and friends to include Maj. Johanna Perdue, 31st Surgical Operations Squadron officer in charge of same-day surgery, getting one last trip in before their permanent change of station moves.

It was only four hours into their trip, traveling down a back road their GPS had led them to, that they stumbled upon a major vehicle accident - one that hurled a motorcyclist into a nearby wheat field - his bike setting the field ablaze.

While a crowd of about 15 spectators had gathered, none of them were willing to get any closer than 20 feet from the blaze.

"I initially ran toward the field near the fire and scanned the area looking for the motorcyclist or for any sign of where he might have been thrown from his bike," said Chief Eggers. "If he was alive and going to make it I knew I needed to find him fast."

The Chief recalled a time when he was 13 years old and fallen victim to a gasoline fire that had severely burned 30 percent of his body.

"I know how painful and traumatic an encounter with fire can be," he said. "I knew I wasn't going to let this man experience that type of pain if I had anything to say about it."

The dense field ignited quickly, creating intense heat and thick black smoke, making it almost impossible to locate the motorcyclist, Major Perdue recalled.

"With the high fire and black smoke, it seemed as though the motorcycle could have exploded at any moment," added Chief Eggers' wife, Corrine, who remained in the car with the children at a safe distance.

As Chief Eggers began to walk away from the fire, unable to see the victim, he suddenly noticed a shoe belonging to the motorcyclist. Scanning the area again, he was able to spot the victim lying in the field about 20 yards from the motorcycle and about five feet from the intense and expanding fire.

"We could tell immediately that he was in critical condition," said Chief Eggers, who has been in the medical career field for 27 years. "He had multiple fractures to include hip displacement and one to his left femur. His right foot was also nearly amputated at the ankle and his spine seemed as though it may have been broken."

With such serious injuries, Chief Eggers and Major Perdue knew it was best to keep the victim as still and calm as possible until the paramedics arrived, pending the fire could be kept at a safe enough distance.

"If we had to move him we had a game plan and were prepared to do so, but that would be our last resort," Chief Eggers said.

As the chief and his friends worked to keep the victim calm and safe from the blaze, they noticed one of the spectators had obtained a small fire extinguisher and in an effort to suppress the fire, was inadvertently forcing the fire and smoke toward them and the victim, said Major Perdue.

Relying on the German he had picked up over the years, Chief Eggers was able to get the spectator to stop using the extinguisher.

"I was also able to get an aluminum heat blanket from someone, which we used to help shield the victim from the heat and smoke," said Chief Eggers.

The chief, Major Perdue and a friend were also able to compact the crops between the victim and the fire to help create an additional barrier.

The chief continued to comfort and reassure the victim in German, while Major Perdue and his friend monitored the victim's condition and ensured he remained immobile - not to worsen his injuries.

"Keeping him calm and safe from the fire was paramount," said Chief Eggers.

Shortly thereafter, local paramedics arrived on scene and the trio continued to assist, starting an intravenous drip and providing first aid, until they were no longer needed.

"I would definitely say it was years of training that kicked in that day," said Chief Eggers. "All those mass casualty exercises we practice in the Air Force, air show crash scenarios and so on. It's important to play as though it's real because you never know when you may need to put those skills to use."

Mrs. Eggers agreed that her husband and Major Perdue's training was definitely evident in the rescue.

"As someone watching everything go down from a distance it was obvious their training had kicked in," said Mrs. Eggers. "They knew exactly what needed to be done and did it fast. I was very impressed by their actions and proud of them all."

Chief Eggers added that if there is one thing people can gain from his experience, it's simply to help those in need when its safe.

"Don't be afraid to help," he said. "I truly believe that if we didn't show up that day and find him when we did, that the fire would have risen up and consumed him. Any help is better than no help at all. Just do your best to assist and be proud of that."