California Professional Firefighters

Contra Costa FF Honored by Legislature for Water Rescue

Senator Mark DeSaulnier presented the resolution to Dave Manzeck, middle, and CHP officers Bouyea and Jason Hertzell for their rescue efforts in April.
Contra Costa firefighter and Local 1230 member Dave Manzeck was honored by the California Senate and Assembly today for his dramatic swift water rescue of a 74-year-old woman in April.

Walnut Creek resident Janet Hogan was in the car with her husband and son, when her son experienced a seizure or stroke and lost control of the car. The car veered off the road and crashed into a flood control canal in Walnut Creek with a powerful 20 MPH current.

Hogan's husband and son did not survive. Hogan freed herself from the car, but was pulled by the swift-moving current and went underwater several times.

Manzeck along with CHP officer Shaun Bouyea and CHP helicopter pilot Jason Hertzell were called to the scene. Manzeck was hoisted down into the choppy water and, after several attempts, was able to pull her safely to land. Manzeck suffered a dislocated shoulder and torn ligament in the rescue operation.

Manzeck, Bouyea and Hertzell were all presented resolutions by Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) for their heroism and were also recognized in the State Assembly by Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo).

Contra Costa Captain Rob Smith, Dave Manzeck and Vince Wells at the Capitol.
"Dave really put his life on the line when he volunteered to be lowered from the helicopter into that 50 degree water and he saved this woman’s life,” said Vince Wells, President of Local 1230. “I’d like to thank the members of the Senate and the Assembly, particularly Mark DeSaulnier and Joan Buchanan, for recognizing the heroic work of public safety personnel like Dave Manzeck.”

Janet Hogan was unable to attend the event, but Hogan's surviving son, John, was present to thank the three men for their courage on behelf of the Hogan family.