Pictured (L-R): C.G. Wigginton, GPSTC Director, Captain Rondal Robinson, White Co EMS, Chief Jody Prickett, Helen Fire –Rescue, Battalion Chief John Lumsden, White Co Fire Services, Governor Nathan Deal.
(Cleveland) Three White County first responders received an “Act of Heroism” honors from Governor Nathan Deal on Tuesday, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. White County Public Safety Director David Murphy said, “the team was led by Battalion Chief John Lumsden, White County Fire Services, Chief Jody Prickett, Helen Fire-Rescue, and Captain Rondal Robinson, White County EMS.
Murphy said, on the afternoon of Thursday, September 3, 2015, Tony L. Waldon of Alto, was riding a motorcycle from Hiawassee to Helen. Mr. Waldon entered an area of gravel, lost control of his motorcycle and left the paved surface. He went off the side of the road and rolled over 120 feet down an embankment before stopping on a narrow and flat area.
A highly trained team from White County Fire and EMS was dispatched to the scene and began what would become a two hour rescue. Using state of the art techniques and training, the team stabilized Mr. Waldon on a backboard, and pulled him up incredibly steep and rocky terrain.
Once Mr. Waldon was successfully loaded into the back of the ambulance, he was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center where he was admitted to the Trauma Care Unit, because of the skilled and professional execution of the White County Team, Mr. Waldon’s injuries were kept to those sustained during the fall.
Mr. Waldon spent several weeks in the hospital and has since fully recovered. The fact that he can walk today has been attributed to the White County team that rescued him off the side of the mountain.
We certainly honor these three leaders while also recognizing the heroic efforts of all those first responders on that fall afternoon, said Murphy.
