HUMBOLDT — “On May 9, a tragedy struck our city,” Humboldt mayor Nobby Davis said to a packed room at the onset of Monday evening’s city council meeting.
“We ended up losing a brave, longtime member of our community. By the grace of God and the heroic actions of the Humboldt Fire and Humboldt Police departments and EMS, a young boy was saved. On that day, several witnessed our men and women in action. We do not usually get to see all they do. We only get to hear the stories that are told.”
Davis was referring, of course, to the tragic death of Kim Houdashelt, 64, who died after he jumped into the Neosho River to save his 7-year-old grandson.
Humboldt Police Lt. Ty Wooden and Officer Kason Siemens played pivotal roles in saving the boy’s life. Siemens swam out to the boy, pulling him to the shallows.
He then handed the boy off to volunteer firefighter Kent Goodner. Additional volunteer firefighters took the child up the bank to get him to the landing, where he was taken in an ambulance to Allen County Regional Hospital, and later transferred to Children’s Mercy Hospital, in Kansas City, Mo.
Humboldt volunteer firefighter Reece Criger swam into the water to reach Houdashelt, where both were pulled back to shore. Crews immediately began administering CPR. Houdashelt was taken to ACRH, and then transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
Houdashelt died the following evening.
On Monday, Davis began the council meeting recognizing the heroic acts of Humboldt’s first responders.
“I think we take for granted what these departments do, day after day, to serve and protect our families, friends, and neighbors. So today, on behalf of the City of Humboldt, I would like to say thank you for your courageous, valiant actions and your valiant duties to our community. We do appreciate you all.”
City council members proceeded to shake the hands of all first responders gathered. Applause echoed throughout the basement of City Hall.
JOHN LEROY then addressed the crowd during public comment.
“I have to echo your comments about the tragedy on the 9th,” he said. “Hit pretty close to home. Brother-in-law. I’m going to try to get through this.”
“First, I want to speak to all the first responders who were there,” Leroy said. After the tragedy, “there was a lot of doubt, and a lot of feelings crept in that maybe we should have done more.
“Sometimes, things happen out of our control,” he continued. “I’m a firm believer in God and some of his providence is that we are put in a certain place, for a certain time, for a certain job. And I think Kim, if he were here today, he would tell you that if he were given the same situation a hundred times, he would do it the same way.
“And, you know, his job that day wasn’t to continue his life. His job was to save a little boy and get him to where he could be pulled out of that water. And I firmly believe that’s what he did,” Leroy said, his voice breaking.
He turned to Officer Siemens, who was seated in the audience.
