‘We both called it a miracle from God’
Published: May 22, 2006
The heroic rescue of a utility worker from a burning vehicle has garnered a McDowell county man a prestigious Carnegie Medal.
James Lonnie Hensley, 56, of Skygusty, has been named as one of 16 national award recipients by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. The medal is given to those individuals throughout the United States and Canada who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.
Hensley, who helped to save an Appalachian Power Company meter reader from a burning vehicle in Kimball on Dec. 16, 2004, was surprised to learn of his nomination and award.
“It is an honor, and I’m shocked,” Hensley said of the award. “I never expected any of this.”
In addition to receiving the Carnegie Medal, Hensley also will receive a grant award of $4,000.
Hensley was traveling from Northfork toward Welch with his wife Regina when he heard a loud noise, looked through his rear view mirror, and saw that two trucks had collided head on. He immediately rushed to the scene of the accident near Kimball. His wife called local emergency officials.
“Me and my wife were the first ones there,” Hensley said. “Fire was coming out from under the hood, and it kept getting worse and worse.”
Hensley said several other onlookers also tried to help with opening the door, but were deterred as the flames kept growing larger.
Hensley said he had to use a metal bar in an attempt to pry the car doors open. The driver of the vehicle, a 53-year-old man, was seriously injured and trapped by his legs inside the burning vehicle.
“I got a steel bar to try to pry the doors open, but they wouldn’t budge,” Hensley, who was hospitalized for smoke inhalation at Welch Community Hospital following the heroic rescue, said. “The fire kept getting bigger and bigger. The adrenaline just started pumping, and I grabbed that door on the passengers side, and just yanked it with all my power and it opened.”
Hensley said the man’s feet came loose when the door was opened.
“When the door popped open, his feet came loose,” Hensley said. “We both called it a miracle from God.”
Following the rescue mission, both men ended up hospitalized at Welch Community. The driver of the second vehicle also was injured in the crash.
“I didn’t expect all of this,” Hensley said of the award. “I’m just glad I could save his life and help him out.”
Hensley said he doesn’t know who nominated him for the prestigious award.
To date, the Carnegie Hero Fund has honored 36 individuals in 2006, and 8,997 awards have been presented since the Pittsburgh-based funds’ inception in 1904, according to a press release from the Carnegie Hero Fund.
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