Real Heroes Debbie Little and Paul Bradley
Deputy Debbie Little and Pilot Paul Bradley were chosen as heroes in the "Rescue Professional" category of the 6th Annual Real Heroes Awards Breakfast. You can read more about them below.
Rescue Professionals must respond quickly, often entering dangerous terrain and risky situations.
Last April, well after dark one night, the Sonoma County Sheriff's helicopter unit was called to an emergency. Pilot Paul Bradley, Deputy Debbie Little and paramedic Sean Cotton headed to a 300-foot cliff in Jenner, where a 60-year-old Windsor, CA man was stranded halfway down the cliff.
They quickly began a long-line night rescue as darkness masked the man's whereabouts on the cliff. They skillfully used spot lights, infrared equipment and night vision goggles to locate Nicolas Martinez.
Martinez and his small dog had been stranded for more than 10 hours and his life-threatening medical issues were escalating. But once the crew located Martinez, they worked quickly, lifting both the man and his dog to safety. Martinez was then flown to the hospital, and fortunately made a full recovery.
Thanks to their fearlessness and skills, applied in a high pressure emergency situation, these professionals saved the life of a frightened, exhausted man and his dog.