Heavenly workers recognized for saving man’s life

Several Heavenly Mountain Resort employees were honored May 17 for saving the life of a skier in January.

Kevin Coyne of Walnut Creek had a heart attack in the lift line at Comet Express on Jan. 18.

Alan Payne, assistant manager for Heavenly’s Nevada Lift Operations, retrieved the AED unit from East Peak Lodge, while first-year ski patroller Grey Grandy took over CPR from Payne’s girlfriend, Karen. Responding ski patrol staff included Chris Grasso, Brandon Commanda, Jason Scott, Ashley Daw, Chris Child, Ryan McPartland, Justin Keys, and Luke Voss, in addition to Mike Orr from mountain safety.

Ski patrollers transported Coyne down Nevada Trail to the Boulder area, where Tahoe Douglas firefighters initiated advanced life support before Care Flight transported the patient to Renown Medical Center in Reno.

The quick action of the employees saved Coyne’s life, which allowed him to walk his daughter down the aisle this spring. He is also looking forward to his own nuptials in October.

Coyne returned to Heavenly this week in honor of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week (May 17-23). Care Flight and Phillips, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of automated external defibrillators, presented an award to the team who assisted in saving Coyne’s life.