KMOX 1120AM

Local

EMT Who Responded To 1981 Hyatt Disaster Retires

View Comments

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)- One of the last still-working EMTs who responded to the 1981 Hyatt disaster has retired.

The Kansas City Star reported that friends gathered earlier this month to honor Larry Jones. He was only three years into a 34-year career when he rushed into the Kansas City hotel.

Inside, some of the victims were trapped under so much debris that it took cranes to free them. Jones transported who he could.

When it was over, 114 people were dead and more than 200 injured. Jones like so many was changed. He took out frustration at the shooting range. But the experience never made him turn against the job.

Colleagues say few EMTs match his tenure. Jones says simply, “I’m just a guy that did his job.”

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
Listen Live!

Twitter Updates

Select a Live Stream