Firefighter Involved in 2009 Mercer Island Beach Club Rescue Earns Award

Bellevue Firefighter/Paramedic Phil Pierson, who helped save the life of a young girl at in 2009, is this year's winner of the countywide Medic One Foundation's "Spirit of Team Play Award". 

According to a City of Bellevue press release, Pierson will be publicly awarded the peer-nominated honor and throw out the first pitch at the Seattle Mariners' Sept. 14 game at Safeco Field. And as a living example of his work, he'll be accompanied by nine-year-old Mercer Island resident Lily James. 

Lily nearly drowned in July 2009 in an horrific accident that occurred in Lake Washington near Mercer Island, the press release stated. Her feet were almost severed when an inflatable flew off on her family's boat and she was caught in the tow rope. Paramedics, including Pierson, treated her on the dock of the the day of the accident to keep her alive, and a series of surgeries since then have allowed Lily to regain the full use of her feet.

Coworkers nominated Pierson this year and last for his many years providing emergency medical skills and CPR training, both for the public and other paramedics. "His passion for teaching has taken him all over the county, country and even to Africa," noted fellow paramedic Greg Clifford.  

The Team Play Award is presented annually by supporters of Medic One — a countywide public safety agency — to a Puget Sound paramedic who exemplifies integrity, teamwork and compassion. 

Medic One supports special training and equipment for select firefighters to provide advanced life support care while a patient is on the way to the hospital. 

(Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Lily was a Bellevue resident and was corrected. Mercer Island Patch regrets the error.)