William F. Conran Medal

Firefighter Paul A. Miller, Ladder Company 48

April 28, 2004, 1805 hours, Box 2410, Bronx River, Bronx

Appointed to the FDNY on October 27, 1996. His great-grandfather, Edward Lehmkuhl (deceased), was retired from Engine 79. Member of the Steuben Association. Holds an Associates degree from Suffolk Community College. Recipient of two Class III ratings, one for this incident. Resides in Centereach, Long Island, with his wife, Eileen, and daughter, Grace.

When people talk about the Bronx River, visions of boating and recreation don’t immediately come to mind. Anti-pollution initiatives implemented throughout the City have changed this vision. Today, one can find many community groups canoeing up and down this winding tributary. Unfortunately, as with any recreational activity, a day of fun can change to a day of horror in a heartbeat.

The night tour had just started on April 28, 2004, and members of Ladder 48 were busy checking tools. Box 2410 rang in at 1805 hours with an unusual message: “swift water rescue.” The original location on the ticket was Lafayette and Hunts Point Avenues, but Ladder 48’s experienced crew--including Lieutenant Richard Glover and FF George Bodnar, the chauffeur--knew before even leaving quarters that the intersection given was several blocks from any water. Lieutenant Glover immediately got on the radio and asked for a better location. Ladder 48 was redirected to the Bronx River and Lafayette Street.

FF Bodnar, a 20-year veteran of Ladder 48, knew that the best access would be through the Hunts Point Market. FF Bodnar sped through the maze of trucks and loading docks and placed the apparatus just feet from the Bronx River. Members poked through the brush along the bank of the river. They were exactly parallel to 11-year-old Yolanda Sepuvesa, who was clinging desperately to her partially submerged canoe about 90 feet from shore. Yolanda was not wearing a life vest and could not swim.

Ladder 48 members lowered a 20-foot ladder down the steep bank leading to the river. FF Paul Miller and Lieutenant Glover climbed down to the river’s edge and attempted to assure Yolanda that she would be all right and they would rescue her. Other members of Ladder 48 were in the process of retrieving the lifesaving ring and utility ropes from the ladder bed to assist in a safe rescue.

Ideally, a member would have the lifesaving ring secured with a utility rope to shore and swim out to the victim. In this way, the Firefighter could be pulled to shore when reaching the victim and still remain secured to a flotation device. Ideal, however, was not to be the case on this cool spring morning.

The water temperature was 45 degrees. Yolanda was being pushed in the swift current down river, toward the Long Island Sound. And, the element of time was about to turn against the rescuers.

The scared look in Yolanda’s eyes turned to sheer terror as her canoe flipped over and she slipped beneath the surface. FF Miller, a former EMT and lifeguard, realized that she was in imminent peril. The Firefighter removed his bunker gear and dove into the frigid water without the lifesaving ring and safety rope. He swam 90 feet to the drowning child and pulled her back above the surface.

Securing her near-lifeless torso in a cross-chest carry, FF Miller swam with a one-armed stroke back toward shore. FF Miller used all his strength to keep Yolanda’s head above the water, while trying to keep his mind off the penetrating cold, which now was enveloping him. FF Miller had just about expended all his energy when he reached the shore. The other members of Ladder 48 quickly pulled both victim and rescuer from the water. The awaiting ambulances transported them to Jacobi Hospital to be treated for hypothermia.

Yolanda Sepuvesa survived her ordeal only because of the extraordinary bravery of FF Miller. To this day, Yolanda occasionally visits the firehouse to show her appreciation to her favorite Firefighter. It is the actions of Firefighters such as Paul Miller who demonstrate the true dedication of the FDNY in any kind of emergency. That is why he is being honored today and presented with the William F. Conran Medal.—CB