Heroic San Clemente Deputies Honored for Saving Woman's Life

A San Clemente woman is alive today thanks to the heroic lifesaving efforts of an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy and an investigator.

Investigator Rich Reyes and Deputy Gary Hamchuk were among 28 men and women honored by the sheriff’s department with Medals of Valor. The pair received the Lifesaving Medal for tirelessly rendering CPR to save the life of a 77-year-old woman who had stopped breathing. Here is their story of determination courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Investigator Rich Reyes and Deputy Gary Hamchuk Perform Lifesaving CPR on a 77-Year-Old Woman

On Saturday, March 14, 2015, San Clemente Deputy Gary Hamchuk and San Clemente Deputy Rich Reyes, who has since promoted to Investigator, responded to an unknown type medical aid call at a home on Via Estancia. Dispatch advised the Deputies an elderly woman at the residence was unresponsive and might not be breathing. Responding immediately, the two Deputies arrived within a few short minutes and were met by the 77-year-old victim’s hysterical daughter. She directed them to a rear bedroom where they found the woman on the floor and unresponsive.

Deputies Hamchuk and Reyes quickly performed an initial assessment and determined the woman was not breathing and had no pulse. Reacting with trained precision, the Deputies calmly began Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Deputy Hamchuk performed chest compressions while Deputy Reyes administered rescue breaths. The two Deputies conducted CPR for several minutes until Orange County Fire Authority personnel arrived and assisted the deputies with moving the woman to a larger, more open area. The paramedics had Gary and Rich continue CPR until advanced emergency equipment was setup and ready. Eventually, the paramedics administered four shocks to the victim before her heart restarted and she began breathing on her own. She was transported to the hospital for further treatment.

Deputy Gary Hamchuk and Investigator Rich Reyes, effectively applied their emergency first aid skills, administered successful CPR and saved the life of the elderly, female heart attack victim.

Photo Courtesy of the orange County Sheriff's Department