DENVER — Denver Health paramedics respond to more than 100,000 calls per year. They transport 70,000 patients each year. But they rarely see the incident as it happens. Captain Josh Kennedy was assigned to the East High protest in early December.
He was there when a driver lost control of his car and hit several Denver Police bike officers, including Officer John Adsit. Captain Kennedy said, “As a paramedic, we’re not used to seeing some of the things happen. We show up afterwards. So watching it happen, happen to someone we work with and I’m familiar with and spent the day with, it was shocking. It was almost surreal to me at the time. Of course, I knew I was there and had to do something.”
Turns out, he helped save Officer Adsit’s life.
Capt. Kennedy said, “When I looked over and saw officer Adsit, I knew his injuries were severe, he was face down on the ground, I knew he needed assistance right away. Right off the bat I knew he was breathing well I noticed his injuries for his whole lower body were very severe. His body, the way he was, it was amazing the amount of injuries he had, I could tell through his uniform looking at his legs and pelvis that he was severely hurt. My main goal was I could tell he wasn’t breathing. I just did a basic airwave maneuver that we were taught in EMTto open his airway. At that point, he took a deep breath which was amazing to me, made me feel really good that something positive was happening.”
He went on to say, “It’s just my job and what I do and I’ve been used to doing for 14 years EMS, just kind of clicked. I was the one there to help those guys. It’s a great feeling to help someone out, a rare time when you can make a difference in someone’s life … like I got the opportunity to do that day. It’s more special that it is someone that is a friend and a colleague and someone that close.”
Officer Adsit told FOX31 Denver, “I truly believe God put the very best of the best in the position to help me that day.”
He recently had a chance to meet all the Denver Health paramedics and doctors that helped save his life. He said, “One of the paramedics told me it was one of the fastest drives they’ve ever had to Denver Health. My thanks to the officers there, my own team, orchestrated smooth ride to hospital. Phenomenal team. I am so grateful I was in the proximity of Denver Health and so thankful it was Denver Health paramedics that were there to help me that day.”
Officer Adsit says he has a long road to recovery still ahead of him, with ups and downs. He is trying to take it one day at a time. He said, “I’ve always loved this job, would love to be back riding a bike with my brothers in blue again. I don’t know if it will be physically possible. Unanswered questions. Don’t know what future will be like. I will work as hard as I can to get back to the way I was before this accident.”
Adsit also said this is a reminder that there are first responders that put their lives on the line every single day to help others. He appreciates the community’s support and he said he will need prayers as he continues his recovery. The Adsits’ Church, Foundry Church in Castle Pines, will hold a fundraiser 5k run on May 2. Get more information about the fundraiser here.