Two firefighters who rushed into a burning building to save an elderly man were honored Tuesday by the Aurora Fire Department.
Lt. Toby Gill, a 15-year veteran, and Pvt. Clinton Thompson, who joined the ranks last year, were named Firefighters of the Year at the AFD's annual luncheon at Gaslite Manor in Aurora. Gill and Thompson were nominated by their fellow firefighters, and the award is sponsored by the Exchange Club of Aurora.
Gill and Thompson were among the first on the scene at 7:45 a.m. Aug. 20 at a fire on Gladstone Avenue. The two entered the front of the burning house, where they found an elderly man, later identified as Richard Culliver, lying on a couch.
The two carried Culliver to the front door, where paramedics were waiting to assist. Culliver was airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge for treatment of smoke inhalation. Culliver later recovered from his injuries.
Gill said the smoke was so thick in the house that he couldn't see 6 inches in front of him. It was Thompson who found Culliver, giving him an opportunity to save a life very early in his firefighting career. But while their fellow firefighters honored them for their bravery, Gill and Thompson said it was just part of the job.
"It's what we're trained to do," Gill said. "Luckily, we got it right this time."
Pvt. Brandon Matson also was nominated for saving a 1-year-old child from choking in June. Matson was off duty at the time and attending a Fun Fair at Irene King Elementary School in Romeoville.
Aurora University trainer Terry Smith was given the Outstanding Citizen Award, for saving AU basketball player Liz Pearlman's life earlier this month. Pearlman collapsed after basketball practice on Oct. 15 and fell unconscious. She was having trouble breathing, so Smith began administering CPR and sent for the automated external defibrillator to shock her back to consciousness.