Family Reunites with San Jose, CA, Firefighter who Saved Them

Oct. 11, 2024
Off-duty San Jose firefighter Antonio Lopez dove into a murky canal to rescue the family from their sinking vehicle.

The miracle on the 101.

That's what some are calling a Sept. 1 incident in Morgan Hill that involved  a family trapped in their truck in a canal and off-duty responders who just happened to be driving by.

San Jose Firefighter Antonio Lopez and his family saw a truck in a canal, taking on water.

He and his brother, a firefighter in Peru, jumped into the murky waters, NBCBay reported. 

"I found the arm of the baby, so somehow there was another child. Both of them were unconscious," Lopez said.

Yamiles Ibarra, one of the victims rescued, said: "I have another chance with them to do things differently than I used to. I have noticed that I have more patience with them. It's like another life." 

Lopez and his brother first saved the mother before diving in to save the father and children.

By that time, on-duty and off-duty CHP officers joined the rescue, as did Morgan Hill police officers.

On the berm, at least two nurses and a surgeon, who also just happened to be driving by, performed CPR on the unconscious children.

Lopez then went back in with CHP to get the unconscious father.

"Just beyond grateful to have another opportunity in life, thanks to everybody that helped out," said Jose Ibarra.

During a reunion at the fire station, Lopez shrugged off the attention.

"We're all heroes."

 

About the Author

Susan Nicol | News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.