Local hero honored

City employee Matt Coulter, left, receives the McCook Fire Department's Life Saving Award from Fire Chief Marc Harpham Monday evening. (Courtesy photo)

McCOOK, Neb. -- The quick actions of a city parks department employee might have saved the life of a teenager trapped under a van recently. The McCook Fire Department presented the local hero, Matt Coulter, with its Life Saving Award during Monday's meeting of the McCook City Council.

The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 in the morning last Monday. Coulter was working at Norris Park when he heard someone screaming and after investigating found a teenager trapped under a nearby van.

The boy's mother was frantic and Coulter instructed her to call 911 while he set about helping the boy in any way he could, according to a synopsis provided by McCook Fire Chief Marc Harpham.

The fire department refrains from discussing injury details, however, Chief Harpham said the boy was trapped under the vehicle from his lower abdomen up and the incident would have likely been life-threatening were it not for Coulter.

"Had it not been for Matt, doing what he did, this could have been a very tragic situation. His quick action went a long way in making sure that kid survived," said Harpham.

Based on what emergency responders experienced at the scene, Harpham said he believed the boy ended up suffering only minor injuries.

Harpham said he was uncertain what led to the accident but believed the boy was changing a tire because the front driver's side tire was completely off the vehicle.

The McCook Fire Department's Life Saving Award is designed to recognize "any bystander displaying acts of heroism," according to Harpham.