A 13-year-old Mesquite boy is recovering after an off-duty Irving firefighter stepped in to assist paramedics when the teen began having a seizure in an ambulance on Interstate 30.
On February 28, 2025, Brenda Mesa's son, Jose, was hit by a pickup truck while riding his bike in front of their home on Dumont Drive in Mesquite. Mesquite paramedics Justin McConnaughy and Jack London responded to the scene and began transporting Jose to Children's Medical Center in Dallas.
About 10 minutes into the drive, Jose began having a seizure and choking. London alerted McConnaughy to pull over for assistance.
Coincidentally, off-duty Irving firefighter Josh Sanchez, who was driving behind the ambulance on his way to dinner with his wife, saw the vehicle stop on I-30 and knew something was wrong.
Sanchez knocked on the ambulance door and offered to help. He then took over driving the ambulance while the Mesquite paramedics worked to stabilize Jose.
The teen was initially in critical condition and placed in a medically induced coma but is now home recovering.
"I was glad the medics from Mesquite allowed me to help," Sanchez said.
The Irving Fire Department issued a statement saying, "Irving Firefighters are never truly off-duty. We would like to thank Lt. Sanchez for stepping in when he saw a need. We would also like to thank his wife for understanding that a firefighter is a firefighter 24 hours a day, on-duty or off. Wishing the young man a speedy recovery."
The Mesquite Fire Department also released a statement, saying, "We have some heads-up paramedics that did what was best for the patient, and we are so thankful to Irving Fire Department Lt. Sanchez for stepping in!"
