Fire Apparatus Engineer

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

8/5/2011

Special Act Award (Gold)

On August 5, 2011, at approximately 6:30 p.m., off duty Fire Apparatus Engineer Joshua Potter was with his family at the Princeton Harbor in Half Moon Bay when he heard a man yelling for help. Engineer Potter saw a small boat had overturned approximately 300 yards from shore and a man with no life jacket was struggling in the water. Engineer Potter entered the frigid ocean water without any rescue equipment or a flotation device and began swimming towards the victim, a 64 year old man. Others began to help, including a person in a kayak. As Engineer Potter approached the man, the kayaker had already reached him and the victim was holding onto the kayak to stay afloat. A man with a Zodiac inflatable boat also made his way to the victim to assist. As the victim was clinging to the kayak, it began to fill with water and sink. Engineer Potter and the other rescuers quickly put the man into the Zodiac boat and Engineer Potter began evaluating his medical condition. He stayed with the man until he was able to transfer care to the first responders.