Airman's quick action saves motorcyclists's life

Published Oct. 24, 2012
By Steve Pivnick
81st Medical Group Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- A routine trip to pick up their son from daycare Oct. 11 turned into a life-saving event for a Keesler Airman and her husband.

Senior Airman Heather Holley, 81st Medical Operations Squadron, and her husband Eric were crossing the Popps Ferry Bridge that evening when a truck ahead of them suddenly came to a complete stop. The operator of a motorcycle that was right behind the truck swerved to avoid hitting the stopped vehicle, lost control and wound up with his motorcycle on top of his legs.

Holley recalled his legs appeared to be "almost cut off."

"We were directly behind the accident scene. We stopped and jumped out of our car. My husband (who had served in the Navy as a medical corpsman) rushed over to the accident victim while I called 9-1-1. Incredibly, people were just standing around watching.

"We tried to keep him as calm as possible. He was starting to fade in and out of consciousness so we tried to keep him awake. An ambulance arrived about 15 minutes after the accident.

Heather said the victim, a retired Air Force member, had given Eric his wife's phone number and Heather called her to inform her of the accident. The Holleys visited the victim at the hospital that evening; his wife hugged and thanked them for what they had done for her husband.

Heather said the victim, who had surgery the night of the accident and again Sunday, was transported to Jackson, Miss., for additional treatment.

Holley learned Oct. 22 that the victim would lose his leg. "The doctors tried to save it but there was too much damage. He will also have to undergo rehabilitation.

"Reflecting on the event, Heather said, "It brought back some bad memories -- we almost lost my dad in a car wreck last year. It was scary at first but we realized we were able to help. It was a matter of being in the right place at the right time." She added, "All the exercises we've participated in really came in handy. You never think it's valuable until it's needed."

Airman’s quick action saves motorcyclist’s life