Moses Lake student helps save man's life

School board recognizes achievement

MOSES LAKE - When a man needed help, 17-year-old Travis Montemayor was in the right place at the right time.

Montemayor was at home ill when his doorbell rang. A man in distress waited outside. Montemayor almost decided not to answer his door.

"It was just really crazy how everything all came together," Montemayor said.

The Moses Lake School District Board of Directors recognized the student for his role in saving the man's life last week.

Montemayor said he left varsity football practice early because he wasn't feeling well. He received permission from both coaches to head home. When he arrived home, his doorbell rang.

"He opened the door and found a man who seemed to be having health problems. The man's condition worsened, and he collapsed," said board President Allan Burritt.

Montemayor and a neighbor performed CPR on the man while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.

High School Principal Dave Balcom told the school board Montemayor was humble in his description of the situation.

"What Travis didn't tell you is it took nine minutes for EMS to arrive," Balcom said. "For Travis and the neighbor just to start that (process) and be there is just phenomenal."

Montemayor recalled the man's condition when he answered the door.

"He was gasping for air," he said. "I would talk to him and he couldn't respond."

Montemayor dialed 9-1-1. A neighbor pulled into a driveway, and Montemayor waved him over. The neighbor knew CPR. Montemayor helped perform CPR as they awaited the arrival of emergency personnel.

Montemayor expressed amazement at the factors falling into place, allowing him to be at his residence when the man arrived.

"There were a lot of things that wouldn't have let me go home … Like my coaches wouldn't have let me come home from practice if I had not been having a bad day, or feeling sick," he said. "I actually wasn't even going to answer the door. I was just going to go to sleep."