Firefighters Save Manhattan Teen's Life After Crash — Then Buy Him New Boots

MANHATTAN, IL — These boots were made for walkin'—when Brenden Wetzel is good and ready.

The Manhattan teen and Lincoln-Way West senior—who was devastated when his beloved cowboy boots were cut off his feet by emergency responders at the scene of a crash—was given an extra nudge of encouragement as he's on the mend.

New Lenox Fire first responders surprised Wetzel this weekend with a new pair of the exact boots he was wearing that February morning. Wetzel was driving to school Feb. 10, when he lost control of his pickup truck on Cherry Hill Road, just north of Laraway Road. His truck was badly damaged in the crash, and Wetzel broke both arms and legs, also suffering a lacerated spleen and a concussion.

"Wearing boots themselves, the firemen said they didn't want to, but knew they had to, cut off Brenden's boots at the time of the accident due to the severity of Brenden's leg injuries," Wetzel's aunt Becky Mullner told Patch. "They knew immediately that they were going to replace them."

Wetzel—whose family describes him as "a good ol' country boy"—was heartbroken at the loss of his boots, and his cherished Dodge Ram truck. After seeing pictures of the truck, "It's hard to believe he was in there," his mom Josie Wetzel told Patch previously.

Wetzel suffered an open femur fracture on his right leg, open tibia/fibula fracture on his left, a broken left ulna fracture with hand injury, right arm fracture, lacerated spleen, skin lacerations, a severe concussion and internal bleeding. Wetzel is the son of Josie and Raun, and brother to Mikayla, who attends Grand Valley State; Lincoln-Way West freshman Allison, and Manhattan Junior High seventh grader Jessica. A GoFundMe campaign started for the family has raised $30,000.

New Lenox firefighter/paramedic Matt Duda told Mullner he searched diligently for the exact boots they'd cut from Brenden, she said. In the end, it was the stitching that Duda remembered.

"Duda said after hours and hours of searching for the same identical pair that had to be cut off, (he) placed the order," Mullner said.

Mullner captured the visit in photos, where Wetzel is seen grinning, holding his new boots. He is still recovering, only able to bear weight on one leg, Mullner said. He won’t be able to bear weight on his left leg until it heals more, she added. He gets around using a walker or wheelchair.

"He’s hoping to take his girlfriend to prom on crutches, and walk across the graduation stage!" Mullner told Patch.

The boots were a kind gesture from the New Lenox Fire first responders, she said. Firefighter/paramedics Duda, Nick Doty, Drew Douglas, firefighter/EMT Mark Kuzmicki Jr., and Lt. Lucas Rettke were on-scene of the crash. EMS Coordinator Lt. Erik Chmura joined four of the five in the visit to Wetzel. Mullner was thrilled to see her nephew smiling with his new boots.

"The New Lenox Fire Protection District has salt of the Earth, professional and caring paramedic firefighters that we are truly forever grateful for!"