Navy Corpsman Saves Motorcyclist’s Life

Quick Smiles:

• San Diego Navy corpsman rushed into moving traffic to help.
• He used tourniquets, packed wounds and preserved a severed limb.
• The survivor later thanked him during a hospital reunion.

Sammuel Goodwin, a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class with the 1st Marine Regiment, reached a motorcycle crash on I-805 north on July 12 and immediately provided urgent care.

He followed trauma protocols, treated multiple wounds, stayed more than 20 minutes and helped preserve a limb for possible reattachment while paramedics arrived; a trauma surgeon called his wound care exemplary.

“When I got there, I could see she had a below-the-knee amputation of her right leg, with a pool of blood under it,” he said.

“The belt wasn’t stopping the arterial femoral bleed. She was fading fast.”

“The level of risk involved was extreme,” said witness Kailah Rose.

“There were no barriers, lighting was poor, and cars were not slowing down… I watched in awe.”

“By God’s grace I was there with my gear on time and did not get killed in the process,” he said.

At a reunion at Hillcrest Medical Center, Melinda Gurrola thanked Goodwin for his courage and lifesaving actions.

Share this uplifting example of trained responders making a critical difference in an emergency.

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