MIAMI – A group of South Florida fire rescuers who put their critical training to the test were honored on Wednesday.
The Miami Fire Rescue medics jumped into action to save one of their own during a training exercise.
Reece Blake had no pulse and no heartbeat for five whole minutes.
“He died on the Rickenbacker Causeway,” said Paul Blake, Reece’s father. “I have mixed feelings. I have sadness over the loss of my son and I have joy over the rebirth of my son.”
The 23-year-old firefighter ended up in the hospital after suffering cardiac arrest while training and running on the job in March during a joint mission with Miami police on the Rickenbacker Causeway.
Fortunately, training skills kicked in and thanks to the quick efforts of his first responder colleagues, Reece Blake is alive and back in uniform.
“The last thing I remember was passing city of Miami Fire Station 4,” he said. “After that, everyone else told me everything that happened.”
On Wednesday, seven MFR medics received plaques highlighting their life-saving deed.
“Thank God we had all our equipment with us, we knew what heart rushing he was in and we shocked him right away,” said Victor Cobian with Miami Fire Rescue. “We did what we did and what we’re trained to do thank God everything worked out.”