Pete Dunegan was repairing an underground water tank in Mt. Pleasant Borough last year when a pipe inside the tank broke loose.
It dislodged from a support and pinned him, nearly severing his leg and at the same time releasing water into the enclosed vault. Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County coworkers Michael Johnson and Frederick “Rick” Palmer Jr. jumped in to free Dunegan.
They provided emergency care that saved his life and allowed doctors to repair damage to his leg.
Johnson, 54, of Ligonier, and Palmer, 60, of New Alexandria, were recognized for their actions by the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund. They were among the 17 people throughout the United States who were honored earlier this week by the organization.
Officials said Johnson, who was below ground with Dunegan, alerted coworkers on the surface. As water continued to flood into the space, he and Palmer descended a ladder, freed Dunegan, floated him to a ladder and fastened him to a line used to pull him to safety.
Once back on the surface, Palmer removed his belt and used it as a tourniquet to stop Dunegan’s bleeding.
Dunegan was initially hospitalized for 45 days and endured months of physical rehabilitation before returning to work this year. Johnson tore a rotator cuff and suffered a bruised back during the rescue. Palmer was uninjured.
“If it wasn’t for Mike and Rick I would have been a goner. I wasn’t sure I was going to survive,” said Dunegan, 44, of Salem. “We live in a world where people will pull out their phone and tape you if you’re in trouble, but how many people will jump in to help you?”
Dunegan, who worked as a water distribution system serviceman since 2007, said he nominated his coworkers for the award because “they deserve to be recognized for what they did.”
Johnson and Palmer will receive the Carnegie Medal for Heroism and $7,500 grants from the organization next year. The Carnegie Hero Fund was founded in 1904 by industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Over the last century, it has recognized 10,000 people in the United States and Canada as heroes.
“They had very little time to act as rushing water closed in and seconds mattered. Rather than heed the instinct to seek safety, they chose to commit to the removal of their injured colleague, despite the imminent risk to themselves. In addition to courage and selflessness, they exhibited persistence, level headedness and quick thinking – all important qualities of heroes,” said Hero Fund President Eric Zahren.
Johnson, who has worked at the authority since 2008 and Palmer, an employee since 2017, declined requests for interviews.
MAWC manager Michael Kukura said their heroism was worthy of being honored.
“The actions these guys took saved Pete’s life. We’re very proud of them,” Kukura said.