AIRCARE Hero: Larry Simmons

AIRCARE Hero: Larry Simmons

Legendary tennis player Arthur Ashe said of heroes: “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”

Such a display of selfless heroism, though certainly dramatic, occurred in December 2020 when AIRCARE Trainee Tech, Larry Simmons jumped into the ocean and rescued Jessica Atcheson who was trapped in a sunken car after it landed upside down in the water near the West End Sailboat Club in Sandys. Ms. Atcheson suffered injuries in the accident but made a full recovery and was alive to tell the tale thanks to Larry’s quick action.

Larry was honoured by the St George’s branch of the Kiwanis organisation, who made him Hero of the Year. Details of the award were passed on to the New England area division of Kiwanis, of which Bermuda is an affiliate, and the nomination went “up the chain” to the organisation’s international board.

The board determined that Larry was a worthy winner of the Robert P. Connelly Medal of Heroism by Kiwanis International, the first ever Bermudian to receive this award and one of only 600 people who have ever won the honour since it was created more than 50 years ago.

The award is named after Robert P Connelly, a Kiwanian who tried to save a woman who was walking across a railroad track as a train approached. Mr. Connelly and the woman were killed in the 1966 incident and the organisation named a medal after him to honour his heroism and sacrifice.

Everyone at AIRCARE is proud to have you as part of the team Larry!

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