After being in a highway crash that resulted in a heart-stopping injury, Kissimmee resident Josean Almonte was able to thank the crew that saved his life at a special recognition event held last Thursday at Kissimmee Fire Department Station No. 11 on Clyde Avenue.
During the afternoon of Sept. 22, Almonte was riding an electric bike on John Young Parkway when he was struck by a vehicle. Among many other injuries, his heart stopped at the scene—an event that has a survival rate of less than 3 percent.
However, thanks to an off-duty physician who happened on the scene, the quick and coordinated responses of the Kissimmee Police and Fire Departments, which included administering a shock to restart the heart on the scene, and then the work of the HCA Florida Osceola Hospital trauma department, Almonte walked out of the hospital 20 days later.
“All those steps all had to happen at the perfect time for Josean to be with us,’ said Kisimmee Fire EMS Chief Eric Gentry. “This kind of thing doesn’t happen every day, so we thought it was that important to get everyone involved [here today].”
“I just want to thank everybody all so much because I’m a new father,” said Almonte, who looked spy and happy throughout the gathering. “My wife is seven months pregnant and if it wasn’t for everybody, I wouldn’t be here to take care of my daughter who’s coming very soon. So I wanted to be able to thank everybody from the bottom of my heart.”
Almonte says today he remembers nothing about the day of the crash other than being on his bicycle on John Young Parkway.
“Josean Almonte is actually a walking miracle, and it’s our pleasure and honor to recognize him and the whole staff that made this happen,” said Kissimmee Fire Chief James Walls, as certificates of recognition were given to responders who all aided in the dramatic chain of events. “Really this is a collaborative effort. The police officer who administered CPR, followed by our crews who arrived on the scene, worked in perfect synchronization with dispatchers and hospital staff. Everything had to happen at just the right moment for him to be with us today. They do a great job every day, 365 days a year, but we wanted to recognize this group for the effort they did in saving his life.”
