By Jessica Lipscomb
The Naples Daily News
NAPLES, Fla. — An East Naples firefighter was honored for heroism Tuesday for his lifesaving efforts in a one-car rollover accident in early February.
Manny Morales, who has been with the department more than six years, was heading home from his Saturday morning shift on Feb. 4, when he saw a sport utility vehicle lose control, hit a guardrail and flip over on its top in a swamp on the side of the road.
Still in uniform, Morales pulled over and called 911. A group of bystanders was screaming - no one had gotten out of the car, which was partially under water.
Morales jumped in the swamp and moved through the murky water in search of the car’s passengers. He came up for air once, then twice. No bodies.
He took a breath, then went under for the third time. A hand appeared, and he grabbed it. It belonged to a teenage boy.
“I heard a gurgle,” Morales said. By that point, the teen had been under water for about two minutes.
The firefighter began treating the teen until Collier County EMS arrived to the accident, which happened when the SUV’s tire blew out on U.S. 41 East in Ochopee around 9:30 a.m.
Though confused, the teen was otherwise OK, showing normal vital signs after getting treatment.
Morales was presented with the department’s Commendation of Valor during a small ceremony at Tuesday’s fire commission meeting.
“I don’t see myself any different than any of my colleagues,” Morales said. “That is our calling. We do it with a lot of pride and a lot of love.”
Since the accident, Morales hasn’t been in contact with the teen, though he says that’s not uncommon in the profession.
“A lot of times, we don’t know their outcome,” he said. “But at least we know he’s alive.”
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