Members of Barnegat Fire Company Recognized for Saving Life

Members of the Barnegat Fire Company were recognized this week for their courageous efforts in saving the life of their own member.

Firefighter Frank Gadot, Firefighter Peter Toth, Chief Scott Docherty, Assistant Chief Bob Lilley, Firefighter Andrew Kantenwein, Firefighter Matt Lynch and Firefighter James Hammer were recognized at the Barnegat Township Committee Meeting for their assistance of saving the life of ex-chief and life member Ed Buckley.

Gadot and Toth were given a CPR and Life Saving Award during the meeting. They were recognized for taking quick action and successfully rendering CPR to save Buckley’s life.

The other firemen were awarded the Life Saving Award, which recognizes their quick action and assistance in saving his life.

Mayor Morano handed out certificates to the firemen, and he and the Barnegat Committee  members personally thanked the men for their actions.

Firefighters Peter Toth, Andrew Kantenwein, and Matt Lynch had been sworn in just eight hours prior to the incident, which occurred on March 18, 2013, said Morano.  

Buckley suffered a cardiac event while responding to a fire call, and his fellow firefighters provided CPR and used an AED in response.

Their actions revived him, and Buckley was then transported to Southern Ocean Medical Center for treatment. He stayed in rehab for several weeks, and is now back with his family and the Barnegat Fire Company.

Kantenwein, 19, has been a member for a year and five months.

Kantenwein said that all of the responders all did exactly what they were trained to do.

“It showed me what being a firefighter is all about,” said Kantenwein. “It’s not just about the lights and the sirens, it’s about the trust in one another, the countless hours of training, and the brotherhood.”