A former Dunkirk resident is being hailed for her life-saving efforts at Disney. Samantha L. Haase, now residing in Davenport, Fla., was awarded the Disney Heroes Award. Haase and three other cast members from the Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort were recognized for using their life saving training to help save a guest's life. The team was notified by a guest that an individual was unconscious in the fitness center. A team member assessed the guest and was unable to detect a pulse or breathing. Haase arrived on the scene and assisted as they began CPR and applied the AED to the guest in distress. The AED administered a shock to the guest, and the team continued CPR until the paramedics arrived. Impressed with the great, immediate care Haase and the team were providing, the EMTs requested them to continue the lifesaving techniques as the EMTs provided additional care. Using equipment, the EMTs were able to detect a pulse and the guest was taken to a local hospital. There he continued to receive care and was later released to continue to recover with his family. Because of their swift actions, Haase and her team were awarded the Disney Heroes Award. They were recognized by Disney for responding to an emergency without hesitation and using their Ellis training to provide the best care possible to the guest in distress, resulting in saving his life. The group was also commended by the District Fire Department, who made it a point to come and speak to the heroes on two different occasions thanking them for what they did and the quality of care they delivered. The team included Haase, Lifeguard Coordinator Deep Water Recreation at Walt Disney World Resort, Autumn Gagliardo, Reynaldo Valdes and Sara Wasserman. Joseph Carey, Regional Recreation Proprietor of Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort, nominated the group for the award. Only 850 cast members across the entire Disney company have been recipients of the Disney Heroes Award since its inception in 2008. Recipients of this esteemed award have been from locations in the US, Tokyo, Germany and beyond. Haase resides with her wife, Ana Ausek, and their pup Agustus. She is the daughter of Gregory and Annie Haase of Dunkirk.

A former Dunkirk resident is being hailed for her life-saving efforts at Disney.

Samantha L. Haase, now residing in Davenport, Fla., was awarded the Disney Heroes Award. Haase and three other cast members from the Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort were recognized for using their life saving training to help save a guest’s life.

The team was notified by a guest that an individual was unconscious in the fitness center. A team member assessed the guest and was unable to detect a pulse or breathing.

Haase arrived on the scene and assisted as they began CPR and applied the AED to the guest in distress. The AED administered a shock to the guest, and the team continued CPR until the paramedics arrived.

Impressed with the great, immediate care Haase and the team were providing, the EMTs requested them to continue the lifesaving techniques as the EMTs provided additional care. Using equipment, the EMTs were able to detect a pulse and the guest was taken to a local hospital. There he continued to receive care and was later released to continue to recover with his family.

Because of their swift actions, Haase and her team were awarded the Disney Heroes Award. They were recognized by Disney for responding to an emergency without hesitation and using their Ellis training to provide the best care possible to the guest in distress, resulting in saving his life. The group was also commended by the District Fire Department, who made it a point to come and speak to the heroes on two different occasions thanking them for what they did and the quality of care they delivered.

The team included Haase, Lifeguard Coordinator Deep Water Recreation at Walt Disney World Resort, Autumn Gagliardo, Reynaldo Valdes and Sara Wasserman.

Joseph Carey, Regional Recreation Proprietor of Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort, nominated the group for the award.

Only 850 cast members across the entire Disney company have been recipients of the Disney Heroes Award since its inception in 2008. Recipients of this esteemed award have been from locations in the US, Tokyo, Germany and beyond.

Haase resides with her wife, Ana Ausek, and their pup Agustus. She is the daughter of Gregory and Annie Haase of Dunkirk.