![\"4](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/01Mad_Beach_Heroes_City_of_Mad-_Beach_111425-e1763320037139.jpeg\")
(L-R) Madeira Beach Fire Department\u2019s Kavaris Service, Johana Whitfield, Lt. George Hill, Erick Ubiles, and Joey Calderaro received awards for a heroic water rescue. Photo courtesy of the City of Madeira Beach<\/p>\n
(L-R) Madeira Beach Fire Department\u2019s Kavaris Service, Johana Whitfield, Lt. George Hill, Erick Ubiles, and Joey Calderaro received awards for a heroic water rescue.
Photo courtesy of the City of Madeira Beach<\/p>\n
We grow up watching superheroes with capes and dramatic rescues. Real heroes work without theme music or scripted glory. They ride in fire engines, patrol cars, and rescue boats. On Oct. 12, Madeira Beach firefighters proved what everyday heroism looks like.<\/p>\n
A Blind Response to a Terrifying Scene<\/p>\n
The call came in as a water rescue. Dispatch gave no details or severity. Marine crews lack onboard computers, so they launched without notes or updates.<\/p>\n
Marine 25 moved toward John\u2019s Pass with Lt. George Hill, Driver Engineer Erick Ubiles, and Firefighter\/Paramedic Joey Calderaro. Medic 25 raced by land with Firefighter\/Paramedics Johana Whitfield and Kavaris Service.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as we got to the pass, we saw people waving us in,\u201d Calderaro said. \u201cThat\u2019s when we knew this was serious.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Jet Ski had slammed into a family sitting still on another Jet Ski. The high-speed impact threw three people into the water, including two young children.<\/p>\n
A Rescue Without Hesitation<\/p>\n
Calderaro, the rescue swimmer, entered the water first.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe uncle handed me the daughter,\u201d he said. \u201cShe was under 10 and the most critical. We got her on the boat immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
The crew pulled the second child aboard next, then the adult. All three showed signs of severe trauma.<\/p>\n
Hill recognized the crisis instantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hit trauma alert criteria right away,\u201d he said. \u201cKids hit harder emotionally. These were someone\u2019s babies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marine 25 rushed the victims to Don\u2019s Dock, where Medic 25 waited with more paramedics. Both children were transported under trauma alert to the Bayfront Emergency Room.<\/p>\n
The Quiet Weight Firefighters Carry<\/p>\n
When the crews returned to the station, reality settled in.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese calls stay with you,\u201d Hill said. \u201cWe all have kids. So the first thing we do is check on each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
They waited for updates, hoping for good news while replaying every moment.<\/p>\n
Hours later, the call came: both children were expected to recover.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a huge relief,\u201d Hill said. \u201cThat\u2019s when you let yourself breathe.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fire Chief and Acting City Manager Clint Belk understands the anxiety that comes with waiting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely nice to get an update on the patients. It doesn\u2019t happen very often,\u201d Belk said.<\/p>\n
A Family\u2019s Gratitude \u2014 and a Community Reminder![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Firefighting_Heroes_Mad-Beach-Fire_11202025-scaled-e1763670349392.jpg\")
The family who was rescued treated their heroes to breakfast at The Frog Pond restaurant Nov. 17.
Courtesy of Madeira Beach Fire Department<\/p>\n
The family later sent a letter to Mayor Anne-Marie Brooks and the City Commission. They thanked the firefighters for their \u201cquick, professional, and compassionate response during an unimaginable emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey train so much for this exact scenario and now everyone gets to see why we train like we do. Having the Gulf Beaches fire departments so united allows a high stress call such as this one to be a successful call.\u201d Chief Belk said proudly, then continued: \u201cThe family has been very gracious and even treated Madeira Beach Fire Department, Treasure Island Fire Department, and Sunstar to breakfast at the Frog Pond last week.\u201d<\/p>\n
The City of Madeira Beach formally recognized:<\/p>\n
Marine 25
\u2022 Lt. George Hill
\u2022 Driver Engine Erick Ubiles
\u2022Firefighter\/Paramedic Joey Calderaro<\/p>\n
Medic 25
\u2022 Firefighter\/Paramedic Johana Whitfield
\u2022 Firefighter\/Paramedic Kavaris Service<\/p>\n
These heroes don\u2019t wear capes or act in movies. They respond to chaos with calm, training, and courage.<\/p>\n
And they do it every day for people they have never met.<\/p>\n
If the movies want heroes, they can keep looking. Madeira Beach already has them.<\/p>\n
Subscribe to our daily newsletter, the Spoonbill Scoop<\/a>, to get daily news of the beaches, Gulfport, and South Pinellas.<\/p>\n