By FireRescue1 Staff
FOND DU LAC, Wis. — An off-duty fire chief was heading out on a camping trip last week with his teenage son when he ended up saving a life.
Fond du Lac Division Fire Chief Troy Haase arrived at a crash scene Nov. 18, where a vehicle and motorcycle were in a ditch, reported WBAY.
Since no first responders had arrived to the scene, Chief Haase used his paramedic skills to stabilize the more severely injured crash victim.
“I just continued to monitor him, make sure he kept his airway, make sure we kept him nice and still,” Chief Haase said. “I kept his head and neck straight and square, made sure we weren’t moving him around a lot.”
The victim, Luke Loewe, had recently accepted an offer to play Division I basketball at the College of William & Mary. While they waited for an air ambulance to transport Loewe to the hospital, Chief Haase made conversation with him. Loewe was reported to be in good condition.
“I didn’t know him, but my son, I told my son the name and he was like, ‘Oh I know who he is,’ and I didn’t really know how he was,” Chief Haase said. “It wasn’t that pertinent to me, but I was just trying to help.”
Loewe’s parents released a statement following the incident, thanking first responders for their actions.
“We are taking one day at a time. We would like to thank the emergency responders, the medical staff and the many angels who have worked on Luke’s behalf,” wrote the family.
Chief Haase said that he wants to use the incident as a learning experience for his son. “You never know when you’re going to be in an accident,” Chief Haase said.
The condition of the other injured individual was unclear.