Pontefract receives lifesaving award for helping Gretna family

The way Mark Pontefract looks at it, he was just doing his job.

Pontefract, a senior supervisor with Sarpy E911 Communications, was honored with a lifesaving award during the July 11 Sarpy County Commissioners meeting.

"There are a number of ways you can be a hero," said Don Kelly, Sarpy County commissioner. "If you help save a life, you're a hero in my mind."

It was Pontefract's quick-thinking that saved a young Gretna family from a potentially deadly situation on the morning of June 9.

About 1:30 a.m., Pontefract received a call from Natalie Minnick. She reported that she and her husband, Doug, were feeling sick to their stomachs, as was their 2-year old daughter, Luna.

Pontefract immediately suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

"When she said all three of them were sick, I knew something was going on," Pontefract said. "I was a volunteer firefighter for 10 years so I had seen carbon monoxide poisoning on that end."

Pontefract alerted Minnick to get her family out of their apartment. He also instructed her to pull the fire alarm in the building, alerting others they needed to get out as well.

"I wasn't sure about pulling the fire alarm because you only think of doing that in an emergency situation," Minnick said. "I didn't really think this was an emergency, but then later on, I realized it was."

First responders from the Gretna and Springfield volunteer fire departments, as well as Sarpy County Sheriff's, responded to the scene.

All three family members received medical treatment, averting what could have been a much worse situation.

Minnick was grateful Pontefract's knowledge of the situation helped steer clear of a potential disaster.

"He spotted something right away I never thought of," she said. "When you're a parent, all your concerned about is your kid. I'm really happy the three of us are OK."

Minnick and her family got to meet Pontefract and his family following the award ceremony.

"I never thought I'd meet the person on the other side of the phone," she said. "I see his family and I realize everyone's got a family. Because of him, our family can continue."

Pontefract, who has been a dispatcher with Sarpy County for eight years and 15 years overall, was grateful the situation ended the way it did, but he wasn't anointing himself a hero.

"I was just doing my job," he said. "I don't need special recognition because I was just doing what I was supposed to do.

"They're the real heroes because they're the one's who made the call. If they don't make that call, it could have been a lot worse."