Red Cross Honors 5 from Fruita Who Saved a Life

Lifeguards, aquatics instructors used CPR training to save a man that collapsed at community center

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Five people were honored for saving a man’s life at the Fruita Community Center during a presentation at the Red Cross of Western Colorado offices in Grand Junction on July 15, 2026. Photo provided by Red Cross of Western Colorado

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Molly Bethe was honored with a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action during a presentation at the Red Cross of Western Colorado offices in Grand Junction on July 15, 2026. Photo provided by Red Cross of Western Colorado

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Jeremy Heer was honored with a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action during a presentation at the Red Cross of Western Colorado offices in Grand Junction on July 15, 2026. Photo provided by Red Cross of Western Colorado

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Trevor Heer was honored with a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action during a presentation at the Red Cross of Western Colorado offices in Grand Junction on July 15, 2026. Photo provided by Red Cross of Western Colorado

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Leyton Pinedo was honored with a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action during a presentation at the Red Cross of Western Colorado offices in Grand Junction on July 15, 2026. Photo provided by Red Cross of Western Colorado

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Susan Bissonette was honored with a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action during a presentation at the Red Cross of Western Colorado offices in Grand Junction on July 15, 2026. Photo provided by Red Cross of Western Colorado

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Five people were honored with Certificates of Extraordinary Personal Action during a presentation at the Red Cross of Western Colorado offices in Grand Junction on July 15, 2026. From left to right: Susan Bissonette, Trevor Heer, Leyton Pinedo, Jeremy Heer and Molly Bethe. Photo provided by Red Cross of Western Colorado

People gathered around a screen having a conversation with a man on a video call

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Five people who saved a man that collapsed in December 2023 at the Fruita Community Center were given one final surprise. Following the award presentation, they were on a video call with the very same man whose life they had saved that day, allowing them to reconnect and receive personal thanks for their efforts. Photo provided by Red Cross of Western Colorado

July 30, 2026

Three lifeguards and two aquatics coordinators at the Fruita Community Center were recently recognized by the American Red Cross of Western Colorado for their efforts that saved the life of a man in December 2023.

On Dec. 18, 2023, several people were playing a game of pick-up basketball at the community center. During the game, one man said he was feeling sick before collapsing to the ground.

Upon seeing the man collapse, front desk members at the community center ran to grab lifeguards Jeremy Heer, Trevor Heer and Leyton Pinedo, as well as aquatics coordinators Molly Bethe and Susan Bissonette.

The five responders had another staff member call 911 while they started checking vital signs and initiated CPR while an AED was being set up. Six total minutes of CPR were performed by Jeremy, Trevor, Leyton, Molly and Susan, and the AED was deployed twice during resuscitation efforts.

Emergency personnel then arrived and took over care from the five responders. Thanks to the efforts of the five alongside emergency personnel, the man survived.

On July 15, 2026, Jeremy, Trevor, Leyton, Molly and Susan were honored with Certificates of Extraordinary Personal Action during a presentation at the Red Cross of Western Colorado offices in Grand Junction. The five honorees also received a surprise – a video call from the man whose life they saved back on that day in December 2023.

The Lifesaving Awards provide recognition for individuals and acknowledgment of the immense payoff of Red Cross safety and preparedness training — arming people with the skills and confidence needed to respond appropriately to sudden emergencies.

To learn more about the awards or make a nomination, visit the Red Cross Lifesaving Awards website. You can also learn more about Red Cross training opportunities and learn to be a lifesaver yourself.