Beaufort paramedic honored by SC Senate for saving life

Photo byCity of Beaufort

Lt. Matt Domanowski, a paramedic with the Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department, was honored on May 8th by the South Carolina Senate with a resolution for “decisively and courageously taking action that saved the life of a gunshot victim on Nov. 1, 2023.”

According to a release by the City of Beaufort, on the early morning of Nov. 1, 2023, Lt. Domanowski was asleep at home and off-duty when he was alerted by the Fire Department that there was a gunshot wound victim in the Abberly Point Apartments, which is where he lived.

He then walked to the scene and discovered that a young male had been shot several times, was semiconscious, and had difficulty breathing. He then began working to save the life of the victim, who was a Marine. The victim had a severe chest wound. Once a fire engine arrived, Domanowski used equipment from the truck to perform a needle decompression through the patient’s chest wall, which allowed the victim to breathe more easily. He also gave the patient fluids to help mitigate blood loss.

Since then, Lt. Domanowski has received a lifesaving award from the commanding officer of the Marine Corps Air Station, Col. Mark D. Bortnem.

Fire Chief Tim Ogden said, “It was an honor to see Lt. Domanowski recognized in the South Carolina Senate Chambers. He is a very passionate firefighter/paramedic and is always willing to help make a difference, on or off duty.”

Beaufort City Manager Scott Marshall added, “This is well-deserved recognition for Lt, Domanowski. It reflects accurately and positively on the professionalism of the department under Chief Ogden’s leadership.”

Lt. Domanowski was accompanied to the ceremony at the Senate by Chief Ogden and Deputy Fire Chief Ross Vezin.

The Senate said in its resolution, “With great pride, the members of the South Carolina Senate add their united voice of praise to the many encomiums flowing in to salute the courage, lifesaving skill, and dedication of Lieutenant/Paramedic Matt Domanowski.”