 |
Jerry J. Herrmann/The Daily Courier
Dave, Cindy and Jason Shaul of Chino Valley have earned a Notice of Commendation from Mayor Jim Bunker for helping to save the life of neighbor Tom Carver. Judy and Tom Carver, from left, joined Cindy and Dave Shaul and Bunker during a ceremony recently at a Town Council meeting. The Shauls' son, Jason, did not attend the meeting. |
|
Tom Carver, a resident of Chino Valley for three years and of the tri-city area since 1990, knows the value of having good neighbors.
They saved his life.
Carver credits Dave, Jason and Cindy Shaul with doing so after a freestanding shed's roof collapsed on him July 21 on his Wendigo Trail property as he was working on it.
Carver said his wife, Judy, used a truck jack so that he could breathe, adding the Shauls heard Judy scream for help.
"David and his son, Jason, scaled two fences between the properties," Carver said. "They were able to jack up the roof to pull me out. I was pinned between the rafters and the ladder."
Dave Shaul said, "The only reason we moved him out from underneath is we were not sure about the stability of the structure, and he was laying on the ladder."
Meanwhile, Dave's wife, Cindy, called 911, and paramedics and police arrived shortly afterward, Carver said.
"The paramedics determined that my injuries were too traumatic to treat me locally, and they called Native Air," Carver said.
A Native Air helicopter flew Carver to John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital in Phoenix, where doctors repaired broken bones and reset his right knee.
Altogether, Carver said he has undergone five surgeries since the accident.
"I probably won't fully recover for another year," Carver said. "I'm still hobbling around."
However, Carver, an Air Force veteran who is retired from 36 years in law enforcement, is grateful for the actions of his neighbors.
If Carver had been underneath the shed and it compressed his chest, he could have been asphyxiated - and died, said Battalion Chief Jack Miller of the Chino Valley Fire District.
"If his leg was bent, where it was stopping blood flow, then he could have lost a leg," Miller said.
Miller said the deed of the Shauls was "very commendable."
However, Dave Shaul, a buyer for the Town of Prescott Valley and Afghanistan War veteran, said his family was merely being good neighbors.
"It's no different than feeding their animals if they are away," he said.
In appreciation for their deeds, Carver said he called Chino Valley Town Hall to see about his neighbors getting honored.
Mayor Jim Bunker presented a Notice of Commendation to the family at a recent council meeting.
"This is the first request I have ever had," Town Clerk Jami Lewis said before the meeting.
Editor's note: If you have a suggestion of a local person to feature in Achievers, call 445-3333, ext. 2041, or send an e-mail to khedler@prescottaz.com.
|
