Kauai firefighters honor four who helped save softball player after arrest

Four Kauai residents were recognized for acting within moments when Howard Yamaguchi went into cardiac arrest at Kalawai Park last summer. Their CPR and use of an automated external defibrillator helped keep the Līhue A’s baseball player alive until Kauai Fire Department and American Medical Response crews arrived.

The Kauai Fire Department honored John Patt, Jim Leake, Victor Lawson and coach JC Crouch at the Fire Commission meeting on June 16. The rescue happened on the morning of August 5, 2025, when members of the Līhue A’s team were gathered in Kalāheo for the annual Hawaii Seniors State Softball tournament. Yamaguchi collapsed, and teammates and bystanders immediately recognized the emergency and began CPR before using an AED.

By the time professional responders reached the scene, Yamaguchi had regained a pulse and was breathing on his own. He has since made a full recovery and spoke at the Fire Commission meeting, thanking the people who stepped in before emergency crews arrived.

Fire Chief Michael Gibson used the recognition to underscore a larger public-safety lesson: CPR training, AED access and quick action can mean the difference between life and death. Tina Hamayasu, the operations manager for American Medical Response, said the early bystander response allowed crews to stabilize Yamaguchi more quickly once they arrived.

The recognition also put a spotlight on the role of the Kauai Fire Commission, which appoints and removes the fire chief, reviews Fire Department rules and annual budget requests, and makes recommendations to the mayor and County Council. For a county where games, parks and community gatherings draw people together across the island, the scene at Kalawai Park served as a reminder that lifesaving help often starts with ordinary residents who know what to do.

County officials have used Fire Commission meetings before to honor similar lifesaving acts, including other rescues and bystander interventions. The recurring public recognition reflects a broader emphasis on preparedness, especially as Kauai County continues promoting the PulsePoint Respond app, which launched on February 10, 2025. The app alerts CPR-trained users to nearby cardiac emergencies and directs them to publicly accessible AEDs.

The county says bystander CPR and AED use can significantly increase survival chances in sudden cardiac arrest. That message is especially relevant on an island served by eight fire stations in Hanalei, Kaiākea, Kapaa, Līhue, Kōloa, Kalāheo, Hanapēpē and Waimea, where geography can make the first few minutes of a medical emergency crucial.