By FireRescue1 Staff
NAMPA, Idaho — An off-duty paramedic was credited with saving the life of a fire chief after he was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash last Saturday.
Paramedic Leo Gilbride was driving home from work when the crash unfolded ahead of him. When the 30-year veteran saw a body on the asphalt after cars began scattering over the freeway, Gilbride immediately grabbed his emergency bag.
Unknowingly, the crash victim turned out to be a longtime acquaintance of Gilbride’s, Nampa Fire Chief Karl Malott.
“You never think about driving up on somebody’s coworker,” Gilbride told KTVB. “We often times run into accidents but very seldom someone that you know and have worked with for one-hundred thousands of calls to help save other people’s lives.”
Malott sustained significant head trauma, road rash and trauma to the airway. Gilbride did not think the chief would survive, but provided care to him until responders airlifted Malott to a hospital.
Gilbride said his medical experience may have been what saved Malott since he was able to tell police and other responders what to prepare for.