FF/PM Saves 3 Men on the Lake
On April 30, 2014, Firefighter/Paramedic Daniel Apodaca was enjoying his favorite fishing spot at Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet. As the morning progressed, the wind picked up, making the lake rough. The swells grew, and it became more difficult to control the boat’s orientation. Apodaca found a protected cove and had just caught his first fish of the day when a Lake Patrol approached, alerting him that the lake was being closed for the day.
Due to the wind and swells, Apodaca put on his flotation device, just in case he were to be thrown overboard. On the two-mile trip back to the dock, Apodaca was moving slowly, watching the lake for hazards, when suddenly he saw a man in the water, arms extended and waving.
In Apodaca’s words: “There were three men in the water, two of them clinging to a capsized aluminum boat I recognized as one of the rental boats. Another was treading water about 30 feet away from the others. The gravity of the situation hit me when the man who was separated from the others cried out in genuine desperation, ‘I’m drowning! Help me! Don’t let me drown! My legs are cramped up. Help me!’”
Fighting whipping wind and high swells — and accidentally running over the victim with his boatduring the process — Apodaca made repeated attempts before he successfully brought the first man onboard. After several more tries, he was able to rescue the second man and get him aboard as well. The remaining man seemed to be moving in and out of consciousness and could not follow directions. When Apodaca was finally able to drag him onto the boat, he was lethargic and hypothermic, but still breathing. With all three men on board, at their urging, Apodaca also retrieved their tackle bag, backpack, and a pair of boots. None of the men had been wearing lifejackets.
Firefighter/Paramedic Apodaca has been saving lives for 22 years, but never felt the way he did that day — a mix of emotion, gratitude, and disbelief at what he had just gone through.
The Medal of Valor, the LAFD’s highest honor, is awarded to a sworn member who has demonstrated bravery at great personal risk to his or her own life, beyond a doubt and clearly above the call of duty, whether on or off duty. Firefighter/Paramedic Daniel Apodaca was awarded the Medal of Valor for his heroic actions that saved three lives on Diamond Valley Lake.