MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
RENO COUNTY, Kan. — Two Reno County first responders were recognized for their bravery and quick action during a life-threatening emergency last summer, receiving Life Saving Awards at a valor banquet held Wednesday night.
Deputy Jake Harrison of the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and District 9 Firefighter Corey Neal were honored for their heroic response to a call on the morning of June 26, 2024, involving a 73-year-old woman trapped beneath a 700-pound riding mower in southern Reno County.
According to authorities, the woman had been working beneath the mower when a jack supporting the machine failed, causing it to collapse across her midsection. She was struggling to breathe when Deputy Harrison, who had self-dispatched to the scene, arrived. Neal, who responded in his personal vehicle, arrived moments later.
With the woman barely responsive and time critical, the two men acted without hesitation. Working together, they lifted the mower off the woman, allowing her to be pulled free. They began administering first aid until fire and EMS crews arrived approximately six minutes later.
Officials say the woman would likely have gone into respiratory and cardiac arrest if Harrison and Neal had not intervened when they did.
“These men are real heroes who walk among us every day,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson said. “Their courage and decisive action made all the difference. Congratulations and thank you for a job well done.”
The Life Saving Awards were presented as part of a ceremony recognizing exceptional valor among local first responders.