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AUSTIN — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs announced Monday that Jason Beckendorf of Marlin is the recipient of the Texas Department of Agriculture 2003 Rural Heroism Award. The announcement was made at the Texas Safety Association’s annual conference in San Antonio. Beckendorf and his father were attempting to free a tractor from the banks of a creek when Beckendorf’s father became pinned under the tractor. All but his nose and mouth were underwater, and he was also impaled on a piece of rebar. When his father stopped breathing, Beckendorf was able to apply CPR to him even though he was still trapped under the tractor. He was able to free his father from the tractor, but the injured man stopped breathing again. Beckendorf performed CPR again until his breathing resumed. After stabilizing his father, he ran about a mile to the family’s barn, where an ambulance was called. His father is continuing his recovery. "Accidents can happen without warning and claim lives suddenly," said Combs. "People like Jason Beckendorf, who can keep their cool in a frightening situation where lives are at stake, are among the bravest of Texans." The Rural Heroism Award is given every year. Candidates must have performed a heroic, lifesaving act within Texas during the prior year. The heroic deed should be related to farming or ranching and occur in a rural area. |
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