Honorees

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Year Honored
2011
Honoree
Brenda Elaine French
Title
Flight Paramedic
Agency
LifeNet Arizona
Agency City
Willcox
Agency State
Arizona
Last Call
7/28/2010
Cause of Death
Air Medical Crash
Biography
Born December 28, 1981 in Wilcox, Arizona, Brenda Elaine celebrated life every day with wit, humor and an adventurous spirit. She believed that you should always strive to do the right thing and be the best you can be, regardless of any situation. There were no boundaries for Brenda as she pushed herself to do and be more at every level of her life. After graduating from Winslow High School in 2000, Brenda tried various work fields until she finally settled on becoming an EMT. She attended Eastern Arizona College, received her EMT certification, and promptly went to work for the Pearce-Sunsites Fire Department in Pearce, Arizona. She furthered her studies at Eastern Arizona College and received her paramedic certification and became the Captain of EMS services for the Pearce-Sunsites Fire Department. In March 2010, Brenda accepted the position of flight paramedic with LifeNet of Arizona, and her duty station was LifeNet 10 out of Willcox, Arizona. Prior to her position with LifeNet, she realized she wanted to continue pursuing her educational endeavors and took online courses towards a degree in nursing and again was attending Eastern Arizona College where she received her Firefighter I and II certifications. Taking the position with LifeNet was one more step in the direction she challenged herself to go. Brenda had just received full status and came off of "3rd Rider" status the week prior to the accident that claimed her life. The day of the accident was her first opportunity to work overtime. Instead of going home that morning, Brenda drove from Willcox to Douglas, Arizona to assist LifeNet 12. In the early afternoon of July 28, 2010, the crew was returning the helicopter, known as LifeNet 12, to its home base in Douglas after routine maintenance work at Marana Regional Airport. Witnesses told local Tucson media that they heard three loud popping sounds before the aircraft's engines went silent for the second time. They saw the helicopter spin a few times before it crashed into a private wall and burst into flames. All of the witnesses commented on the extraordinary measures Alex Kelley, the pilot, took to bring that helicopter down in a safe area as to avoid injuries on the ground. Brenda Elaine died at the scene of the crash; flight nurse Parker Summons and pilot Alex Kelley succumbed later that day.Family members said "We are extremely proud of the work Brenda Elaine did, the compassion she felt, the love she gave unconditionally, the selfless acts that were genuine and given freely, and the path she chose to take in life. She is our hero in this world and a hero with a new set of wings in hers. She is deeply missed and loved."Honored 2011