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Nov 4, 2009 7:24 pm US/Eastern

Motorcycle Crash Survivor Reunites With Rescuers

Rafael Rios Was Severely Injured In Motorcycle Crash On July 4th

His Teenage Cousin Was Also Hurt

Rios Thanked Rescuers Wednesday For Saving His Life
Reporting
Jim Berry
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NORTH MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) ― Miami-Dade paramedics get a very personal thank you Wednesday from a man who survived a terrifying motorcycle accident.

Motorcycle accident victim Rafael Rios stopped by Fire Station 31 in North Miami Beach to thank the paramedics who saved him and his 15-year-old cousin.

"These men didn't even know us, but they showed me they really care," said a tearful Rios.

On the 4th of July, Rios and his 15-year-old cousin were thrown from his motorcycle on NE 19th Avenue and Miami Gardens Drive after crashing into a truck.

Lucky for them, the men from Fire Station 31 got there within three minutes. They knew it was bad, but they are trained to give victims a chance at survival.

"The training tells you to keep a level head and do what you know how to do," paramedic O'Neil Graham told CBS4's Jim Berry.

Rios spent three days in a coma, and nearly a month in the hospital. His cousin suffered a skull fracture. Both survived.

To these firemen, saving lives is routine. What's not routine is the personal visit from the people whose lives they helped save.

"I've been on the job 16 years and this is only the second time I can recall this happening," said firefighter Ricky Rodriguez.

Too often, these paramedics feel helpless in trying to save lives.

In this case, their quick action provided a reward that's hard to measure in words.

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