Just got a call. A visceral scream was the first thing I heard. Someone unloading into their phone and I was the recipient. Confusion, alarm, concern, all the keywords one goes through when you know something bad has happened to the person on the phone with you, flashed my psyche as dread fell upon me.
I then realized that Shawn Alladio was the gutteral scream. She was in her car, naked for the most part, burned, bruised, in shock. We established a rapport and I began to talk her down.
It is 12:15 AM. I am now wired and beyond alert. Shawn had rung off as she reached her home in OC. I knew that she had just done a long day at sea with the military in an appreciation day that her company, K38 Rescue had just put on.
In her weary drive home she had rolled up on a flame wall on the 5 Fwy. She said that she had driven through it and that it looked like Armageddon. Pulling up to a burning car she got out and saw movement in the flames. Grabbing a prybar she broke the window and grabbed at the squirming flame ball that was a man. She said his hands had looked like candles as they burned.
There were bystanders and she screamed for help, but as sometimes happens no one moved and as she managed to gain control of the flaming man she began to pull him out and his foot caught in the debris. Screaming at the bystanders, they finally broke from shock and jumped the two. As they dragged the guy away, the car exploded.
“I smell David, I smell like fire and burning flesh, I think I fractured my arm, I am almost home”
Shawn thought that the car had punctured it’s tank in a collision with the guard rail, setting off the tempest. I am taking a sip of vodka right now. It burns and rasps my throat. I am worried about my friend. Emotionally peaking myself, because I love her and can do nothing. But knowing Shawn, I understand that she will be all right. Eventually. Someone lives tonight, albeit in agony, because Shawn was where she was supposed to be. It is her lot, this sort of thing. Lucky guy.
Shawn always lectures us that rescue (and life) is all about seconds and feet. You have seconds in which to assess and feet in which to react. Tonight once again she illustrated her point. Seconds and feet.
The images below are from the K38 Liquid Militia get together at Dos Pueblos Ranch on the Gaviota coast over Memorial Day weekend.
On first glance you would think it is a bunch of speed freaks and water gearheads going whack. You would be wrong. It was simply Shawn building esprit de corp, skill and teamwork with her tribe. You and I should be so lucky, that if we ever need a hero, any of them showed up. The thing with Shawn is, she always comes. Always faithful. The list of things that she has accomplished is so vast, and she is really so guarded about it, that I smile when I think about how in trouble I probably am, for writing this blog this morning.
What is a hero? Someone prepared to give all, with skills available that increase the odds of their success and you seeing your loved ones once again. I love the way the dictionary describes the term below. Funny really and incorrect in this case.
hero |ˈhi(ə)rō|
noun ( pl. -roes)
a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities : a war hero.
This first image below dropped into my in box in the wee hours. Shawn had shot it before the EMT’s took over. That is a couple who are covering the victim with a blanket. She walked back to her truck and drove away. I guess she maybe wasn’t sleeping either. Amazing.
I rarely do addendums. Here is Shawn’s letter to our team this morning. It says more, back to front than I could, right down to the signature at the page end. And after, some friends and fellow trainees, all of them more accomplished than you would ever imagine. Shawn enhanced their already impressive skill set in her courses.
Thanks All,
I finally got to sleep early this am, and I’m resting. I couldn’t get this man’s image out of my moments, I really don’t have any injuries to speak of. I think I was flushing a long exhausting day, lots of emotional connectors from 2 days of hard work, little rest, then this man’s situation, just topped me. I don’t have any pain at all, but last night was intense, I think most of it may have been emotional or ‘psyche’ driven. That’s an honest statement. I’m a bit banged up but cool. Will rest today and thanks for your thoughts. I did call Mark, Pirate, and Mike, and David, was trying to text to Ryan but I couldn’t make my fingers work. LOL I gave up on the texting and calls, I couldn’t get connections. It’s behind me now, but this man, it is forever. I am going to get dressed and go to Starbucks of course and get a double shot of something, then go over to the hospital to see if he is ok. I hope he has not lost his sight, that seems to be in my thoughts a lot. I will never forget, and we all should appreciate today with profound interest and joy. That is the message in this man’s situation, no crying…get out and about and change the world today, for surely you know not what comes next.
Love to all my friends,
shawn“The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in time of moral crisis”
Geez David…. I can’t imagine the horror. Shawn abviously is not new to the rescue scene. Her quick actions speak volumes about her life.
Thanks for sharing her story. M
Thanks Mary. Yea she is an old hand at it. So glad that she is alive. The back story on this is far more incredible than what I wrote here. Hope he makes it!
Marie
15 years ago
What a riveting and compelling story. It certainly brings up the thought exploration process of how one would respond in those extreme moments Thank heaven for people in this world like Shawn, their heroism, and their example. We are so glad our daughter Jeanette had the opportunity to train and learn from her.
Thanks Marie. Oh Shawn and Jeanette are birds of a feather. Jeanette just does not know it yet.
mary thomas
15 years ago
this woman never ceases to amaze me. she is truly meant for the challenges that meet her… constantly testing her. I am humbled by her, and so very proud to call her my friend.
Shawn heard from the OC Fire Authority. He is in serious but stable condition and is going to live!
Anne
15 years ago
I saw Shawn’s photos over on flickr but just saw the thumbs, didn’t really think about them at the time. All I can think is wow. I’m glad Shawn is okay and I’m glad to hear the other driver is as well (okay being a relative term). I’ve see people react like Shawn did (thankfully the circumstances were much less serious) the instinctualness of their movements is amazing and awesome to see. No hesitation just doing.
Thanks all, thanks Puubeck. I have received a lot of interesting projections of gratitude, thankfulness, fears and assumptions from others about my character or the situation or the actions. Most people do not even know me, yet they have a viewpoint on the actions and results, kind or otherwise. That in itself has been the truer journey than the moments after the accident and caused great reflection of myself on behalf of humanity and its darker spirit behind our layered smiling face. We all have fears and concerns in fact that probably runs out life more than we want to admit it. I find that people are not so good at accepting and listening but far better at displacing rather than embracing. If I were to have died, or this man or recieved further injuries or any other obverse result other than the one we enjoyed, I am sure the words would be flying! I take responsibiltiy for my actions and results. I’m ok with my choices, and I am thankful this man didn’t have more burns or resulted in his death. I would have liked to have seen more support in those moments for I think his burns would have been less severe, but who am I to say how life takes its measures? It is a mystery I am profoundly excited to be a part of that unknown. Semper Spero and keep him in your prayers for his story is the one that needs focus and joy. Now go pick up trash.
You may find this read from Gary Sharpe valuable. The comments thread is excellent. People are thinking. At least some are: https://garysharpe.substack.com/p/are-we-no-longer-just-consumers-but Donna and I
This dropped in as I was finishing loading my two trauma kits today. https://www.eugyppius.com/p/from-sore-arms-to-sudden-death?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoyMTQ4MTQ1MiwicG9zdF9pZCI6NDk4Nzk5MzEsIl8iOiJqc3VMayIsImlhdCI6MTY0Njc0NzEwMywiZXhwIjoxNjQ2NzUwNzAzLCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMjY4NjIxIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.S0YuBcQgsdu3fi5YiaJok2ixSSMmPrxnL91T7DT_q8Q&s=r It really struck me, because I maintain my emergency medical supply
https://www.dailywire.com/news/russias-rt-america-to-cease-production-lays-off-staff?%3Futm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dwtwitter This will not end well. All of these companies mentioned in the article just likely put us in greater jeopardy. Easy to see who
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Geez David…. I can’t imagine the horror. Shawn abviously is not new to the rescue scene. Her quick actions speak volumes about her life.
Thanks for sharing her story. M
Thanks Mary. Yea she is an old hand at it. So glad that she is alive. The back story on this is far more incredible than what I wrote here. Hope he makes it!
What a riveting and compelling story. It certainly brings up the thought exploration process of how one would respond in those extreme moments Thank heaven for people in this world like Shawn, their heroism, and their example. We are so glad our daughter Jeanette had the opportunity to train and learn from her.
Thanks Marie. Oh Shawn and Jeanette are birds of a feather. Jeanette just does not know it yet.
this woman never ceases to amaze me. she is truly meant for the challenges that meet her… constantly testing her. I am humbled by her, and so very proud to call her my friend.
GNARLY! Let us know how the victim fares. What a tragic story and what a woman!!!
Shawn heard from the OC Fire Authority. He is in serious but stable condition and is going to live!
I saw Shawn’s photos over on flickr but just saw the thumbs, didn’t really think about them at the time. All I can think is wow. I’m glad Shawn is okay and I’m glad to hear the other driver is as well (okay being a relative term). I’ve see people react like Shawn did (thankfully the circumstances were much less serious) the instinctualness of their movements is amazing and awesome to see. No hesitation just doing.
Thanks all, thanks Puubeck. I have received a lot of interesting projections of gratitude, thankfulness, fears and assumptions from others about my character or the situation or the actions. Most people do not even know me, yet they have a viewpoint on the actions and results, kind or otherwise. That in itself has been the truer journey than the moments after the accident and caused great reflection of myself on behalf of humanity and its darker spirit behind our layered smiling face. We all have fears and concerns in fact that probably runs out life more than we want to admit it. I find that people are not so good at accepting and listening but far better at displacing rather than embracing. If I were to have died, or this man or recieved further injuries or any other obverse result other than the one we enjoyed, I am sure the words would be flying! I take responsibiltiy for my actions and results. I’m ok with my choices, and I am thankful this man didn’t have more burns or resulted in his death. I would have liked to have seen more support in those moments for I think his burns would have been less severe, but who am I to say how life takes its measures? It is a mystery I am profoundly excited to be a part of that unknown. Semper Spero and keep him in your prayers for his story is the one that needs focus and joy. Now go pick up trash.
Picking up trash now: aka the acronym for DOING something for all those who do not know that part of Shawn’s code.