Palm Bay Honors Boy Who Saved Friend’s Life

By  //  June 6, 2014

Robert Rodriguez Recognized At City Meeting

ABOVE VIDEO: Palm Bay city council recognizes the heroic efforts of Romeo Rodriguez and police officer Amy Revis, who saved the life a local young girl.

PALM BAY, FLORIDA — A 6-year-old boy who stayed calm in a crisis and helped save a life is among a group of people recognized as heroes on Thursday during the regular meeting of the Palm Bay City Council. 

RELATED CONTENT:

• Palm Bay Police Officer ‘Shocks’ 8-Year Old Back To Life
• VIDEO: Girl Meets Palm Bay Cop Who Saved Her Life

 Romeo Rodriguez will be presented with a special “Certificate of Heroism” that reads, “The City of Palm Bay gratefully acknowledges and recognizes you extraordinary bravery, courage and action in saving a life.” (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)
Romeo Rodriguez was presented with a special “Certificate of Heroism” that reads, “The City of Palm Bay gratefully acknowledges and recognizes you extraordinary bravery, courage and action in saving a life.” (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)

Romeo Rodriguez, Jana Watts, Roger Fox, Palm Bay Police Officer Amy Revis and the Palm Bay Fire-Rescue crew from Station 6 including Lt. Brian Gent, Randy May, Kevin Plunkett and Mike Kurrus all contributed to saving the life of a little girl named Cathy who just celebrated her 9th birthday on June 1.

For his efforts, Rodriguez was presented with a special “Certificate of Heroism” that reads, “The City of Palm Bay gratefully acknowledges and recognizes you extraordinary bravery, courage and action in saving a life.”

Mayor William Capote and the members of council acknowledged and recognized the others who were present at the scene and contributed to the rescue efforts.

Amy Revis
Amy Revis

According to Palm Bay spokesperson Yvonne Martinez, Rodriguez and several others were at a Memorial Day Weekend party at a friend’s home on Lakeland Avenue SW when the boy noticed his friend Cathy was unresponsive underwater.

Rodriguez reacted quickly by yelling for help and attempting to pull the girl from the pool.  Roger Fox pulled the girl out of the water.

Jana Watts is a retired registered nurse who was also at the party.  Watts immediately began CPR until rescuers arrived.  Officer Amy Revis was the first responder on scene.

Officer Revis had a portable defibrillator in her patrol car and applied two “shocks” to the child’s chest.  Officer Revis was able to regain a pulse as the paramedics arrived on scene.

Lt. Brian Gent and his crew then began to establish an airway and stabilized the child who began breathing and regained consciousness.

William Capote
William Capote

Cathy was flown by First-Flight medical helicopter to Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando where she spent four days before being released just in time to return to school for the last day of the academic year.

“She is a true miracle,” said Mayor William Capote.  “All of the right people were in the right place at the right time for a good end to what could have been an awful tragedy.  They are all heroes and we as a council want to publicly thank them and let them know that Palm Bay is proud of each and every one of them.”