When he was awakened from his sleep at 2 a.m. to screaming, Marine Corps Sgt. Cody Leifheit didn't know what to think. But, as a newer resident of the Lewiston, Idaho neighborhood, the recruiter knew it could have been anything.
Rushing To Help
However, when the sound continued, Leifheit knew he needed to investigate it further. So the Marine ran down the street toward a group of people gathered around a tree, where he saw 19-year-old Travis Kent hanging 25 feet in the air.
Kent's roommate Austin Tow was already up in the tree trying to figure out how to save his friend when Leifheit scrambled up to give him a hand. Tow said, "Sergeant Leifheit was like Hercules climbing the tree."
Tow had heard his friend talk about killing himself, but he did not think he would do it. Kent's father killed himself when he was young, and his mom was a drug addict, leaving him in charge of his 14-year-old brother Dartanian.
Tow could not decide how to cut Kent down without harming him further when Leifheit said, "Hey, I’m a Marine, and I’m here to help your friend." Leifheit put his right arm around the tree and his left around Kent to take the pressure off the rope allowing Tow to cut it. Immediately, Leifheit checked for a pulse and could not find it.
Saving A Life
He asked bystanders to call 911 and began chest compression on Kent while still in the tree. With Kent's back on a branch, Leifheit continued until he got a pulse. But he kept losing it. He kept working until the first responders arrived. Using a ladder to reach them, an EMT checked for a pulse and did not find one.
Leifheit said, “No, he just had a heartbeat!” He kept doing chest compressions until Kent's heartbeat and breathing came back. Leifheit and a firefighter carried Kent down the ladder and into an ambulance.
He was put in a medically induced coma for 48 hours. He woke from the coma and was able to walk out of the hospital alive. Dartanian was thankful Leigheit saved his brother's life. "My brother is the closest thing I'll ever have to a dad. By saving his life, Sergeant Leifheit practically saved mine."
Leifheit's commanding officer Maj. Sunk Kim said that his actions modeled those expected from a Marine.
Based on the repeated loss of pulse, I suspect that God answered an instinctual prayer, and may have had a hand in awakening the marine. Research shows that most prayers are answered by good people, motivated by God.
I pray that God will fully heal the depression in the damaged family that led to this need for God's marine to step up.
Amen!
If you ever tire of the Marines you would make a great Coastie.
USCG VETERAN
Semper Paratus
What a beautiful Easter story.
Whenever there is an emergency you can count on a marine. I am a retired firefighter and I was helped out at accident scenes more than once by U.S.Marines. Semper Fi and GOD bless the USMC and all our forces!!
Semper Fi, Oooh Rah! Well done Marine. God bless you. We need more Americans like you!
Very well done, Marine! Semper fi!
This Marine followed Clint Eastwood's advice to Marines: "Improvise, Adapt and Overcome". And it was successful.
HalleluYAH to the Master Yahusha ("Lord Jesus") for the presence of mind of Sgt. Leifheit (which is translated from the German, "liveliness")! He and those who called for help showed the young man that they cared for his life and needed him to be there for them. Blessed be the Name of Yahuah (KJV: "the LORD"), by whom we live and breathe, in the Name of our Master Yahusha, amein & amein!
Meg, Thank you for sharing this amazing account ! I praise and thank God for the heroism of Sargeant Leifheit, and support of all others (Austin Tow, the EMTs, ambulance, and hospital staff, etc.) involved in rescue and care for Travis Kent. I wholeheartedly agree with Charles and Brad, and add my prayers for God's healing and wholeness for the Kent family, and all involved.
This is heartbreaking!! God bless the marine who saved him! God's "helpers" are always near by! I don't believe in coincidences!
As the sister of two Marine brothers, Korean War Veterans, this makes me very proud.
A lot of people ask if there really are angels protecting us mere mortals. They do exist in the forms of other humans being called upon to help our fellow humans in times of much needed help. Sgt. Leifleit was/is one of them angels!
I just read all the comments, and I realized just how many wonderful caring people are out there. God Bless all of you and God Bless each and every person that goes into the military, police force, firefighters and first responders. God Bless All of You and Thank you for being you!
Thank You for helping to save two lives , that young man would have be lost. A hug you Rock!!! MARINES
LOVE OUR MILITARY. WHERE MEN ARE REALLY MEN.LOYAL, BRAVE, CARING, SMART PATRIOTIC.