On the night of July 17, John Allen of West Union heard a cry for help from inside his apartment.
“I stepped outside and around to the side of the apartment and I heard it from back in the woods,” Allen said. “I stood by the wood line and listened and I heard the guy hollering. He sounded like he was in pretty bad pain. I thought ‘Should I walk back there?’ but then I thought ‘Well, maybe it’s a situation I can’t handle.’ so I called the authorities.”
Allen, 33, called emergency services and an ambulance was dispatched to his location. They too heard the person calling for help and soon thereafter a West Union police officer was able to locate the individual.
Allen heard the man’s cries for help, from inside his apartment, from about two miles away.
The West Union Life Squad presented Allen with a certificate of merit on Wednesday for his help in getting the individual what the WULS called “a true, life-saving emergency.” The certificate was awarded for Allen’s “outstanding performance of duty under unusual or difficult conditions that involved the protection of life or property.”
“He was laying there for a long time without help and with your help it resulted in a rescue,” a spokesperson for the WULS said.
Both the WULS and West Union Police Chief Roy Stricklett said it was because of Allen that the man was able to be rescued.
“It is because of your outstanding performance under unusual circumstances that the injured person was able to be rescued,” the certificate said. “The initiative you displayed brings credit to your community. Your efforts are commendable and highly honorable.”
Allen remained humble during the presentation.
“I just did what I thought anyone would do,” Allen said.
