In a heartfelt display of gratitude and recognition, Mayor Trace Johannesen and the Rockwall City Council bestowed the esteemed "Life-Saving Award" upon a group of dedicated city employees who worked collaboratively to rescue a Farmer's Market vendor, Farmer John, from the grips of a cardiac arrest.
On July 1, 2023, Farmer John (of State 28 Farm) suffered a cardiac arrest, and thankfully Rockwall Parks & Recreation employee Brian Escobar jumped into action to perform CPR. Soon after, fellow Parks employee Daniel Ramirez joined in to help. After 9-1-1 was called, Rockwall Police Officer Garrett Stewart took over chest compressions.
Next, Captain Lewis Johnson and Firefighters Bogdan Rusmanica and Clay Crawford, along with Rockwall County EMS personnel defibrillated the man. He was transported to a local hospital and was able to walk out after a short stay—even after a diagnosis of Sudden Cardiac Death!
Ofnote, as the patient left, the fire personnel as well as Police Sergeant Jose Urive, and Officers Sonja Doss, Cameron Parker and Aaron Woolverton packed up Farmer John’s market booth, and located the keys, then loaded all the products onto the vendor’s vehicle.
City Manager Mary Smith, who was present during the unfolding events and actively assisted at the market, underscored the significance of the day's events. "Farmer John lives today, thanks to this group of dedicated people willing and able to jump into action and do the right thing," Smith expressed. She further highlighted the paramount importance of acquiring CPR training, emphasizing that the extraordinary outcome serves as a poignant reminder of the impact individuals can make when equipped with life-saving skills.
