Deanna Bonn
Special to the Times-Gazette
The 7th Annual Butler County Emergency Medical Services Lifesave Banquet was held on Thursday, February 27, at The Point Events Center in Augusta. Coordinated by Stuart Funk, Butler County EMS Paramedic and Public Outreach Director, the event celebrates survival from cardiac arrest. It brought together survivors and their families, first responders, and community members to honor and recognize every link in the chain of care.
EMS Chief Frank Williams provided key statistics that offered an overview of the challenges of cardiac arrest and local emergency response efforts.
“In 2024, Butler County EMS attempted 132 resuscitations—21 patients made it to the hospital with a pulse, and nine survived to discharge, which is roughly a 10% survival rate,” said Williams.
He pointed out that 70% of cardiac arrests occur at home and that immediate CPR can triple the chance of survival.
“Every life we save reaffirms the importance of a swift, coordinated response—from bystanders to first responders,” he added.
Guest speakers Terry and Day Radebaugh shared their personal story, recounting the critical moments that led to a life-saving outcome for Day following a sudden cardiac arrest. Their experience showcases the life-saving power of bystander intervention, the clear-headed emergency dispatch instructions, and the coordinated response of first responders. Their account serves as a reminder that the critical minutes following a cardiac arrest—and the prompt application of CPR—can be the difference between life and death.
A highlight of the banquet was the recognition of the 2024 cardiac arrest survivors and the teams that came together to save lives.
“It’s very important to see these guys get the kudos they deserve for all the hard work they put in, and seeing this life-saving come to fruition at the end,” said Butler County Commissioner Marc Murphy, who presented the evening’s awards.
Each life-saving effort—from swift EMS responses to the timely actions of bystanders—was celebrated following the playing of audio from the 911 calls.
“It’s always tough to hear the calls, hearing that despair and the voices of people whose loved ones are hurting. But then to hear the relief when EMS finally gets on scene—the first responders making a difference—makes it all worth it,” he said.
Survivors are identified by name except where consent for release was not given; in those cases, they are listed as Lifesave #1, Lifesave #2, Lifesave #3, and Lifesave #4.
Lifesave #1 on 1/9/2024:
Emergency Medical Services: Daniel Shields and Lexus Cox
Benton Fire Department: Bili Reece, Mate Sommers, Luke Salman, and Rex Stephens
Butler County Rescue Squad: Brice Denton
Lifesave #2 on 2/8/2024:
Emergency Medical Services: Rachel Barker, Vanessa Daniels, Clayton Neuteld, and Nathan Sturchio
El Dorado Fire Department: Kaleb Ash and Dawson Long
Lifesave #3 on 2/13/2024:
Emergency Medical Services: Kathryn Godfrey and Sydnie Stewart
Lifesave #4 on 2/19/2024:
Emergency Medical Services: Clayton Neufeld, Paul Christner, and Cobe Kunkel
Whitewater River Consolidated Fire Department: Christopher Hall
Butler County Rescue Squad: Steve Ash, Steve Wolfe, Lisa Willhite, and Kaleb Ash
Butler County Sheriff’s Office: Donald Tharp and Robert Chandler
Robert D. Boles on 5/27/2024:
Bystander: Jane Boles
Butler County Emergency Communications: Justin Smith, Stephen Wolfe, and Joshua Whiteside
Andover Fire Department: Dennis Smith, Levi Stark, and Jeremy Tuxhorn
Donald Deaton on 6/22/2024:
Emergency Medical Services: Justin Lauppe, Christina Burton, Samuel Russell, and Nicole Suljak
Augusta Department of Public Safety: Ray Marbut, Derek Highbarger, Tim Weber, Shannon Davis, David Northrup, and Nick Hatcher
Thomas A. Web on 12/27/2024:
Emergency Medical Services: Justin Smith, Collin Engrat, Joshua Whiteside, and Stephen Wolfe
Augusta Department of Public Safety: Troy Brown, David Northrup, Trenton Cooper, Tyler Smith, Aaron Hall, Kyle Gaura, Derek Highbarger, and Evan Cain
Following the Lifesave awards, the Bradley Brown Award was presented. This special award is a tribute to the late paramedic Bradley Brown, who was known for his unwavering compassion and life-saving skills. Given to paramedics achieving their sixth life save, the award embodies his enduring legacy. This year, Lieutenant Paul Christner was honored for his sixth life-saving effort.
The banquet was more than a celebration; it reinforced the necessity of ongoing CPR training, broader AED accessibility, and continuous support for first responders.
