Couple thanks firefighters who saved them 10 years later

A Vancouver couple who were in a car crash so horrific they were presumed dead by first responders are holding a special reunion on Tuesday to thank the firefighters who saved their lives.

Ten years ago, Micah and Sarah Reid's car smashed into a pole on the south side of Prior Street at Dunlevy Avenue on Sept. 25, 2005.

The pair survived, but the accident left them with severe brain and physical injuries.

To this day, neither of them remember what happened.

"We actually have no recollection," said Micah Reid on The Early Edition.

"Back then I used to shoot a lot of photography and we were following the band Hedley and a few other bands and they were doing an all-ages show at the Commodore," he said. "We went, shot the show, and then we were on our way home and wrapped around a pole."

Now, a decade later, the couple wants to thank the fire fighters who rescued them. They got in touch with Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and a special reunion ceremony will take place at Firehall #1.

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'Never ever thought it was hopeless'

Darren Loverin is one of the firefighters who attended the accident back in 2005. He stresses he's just one spoke in the wheel of a whole system of people that worked hard to ensure the lives of the couple were saved.

"I just remember showing up and having a look at the car and realizing it was an early model car with probably no air bags and a substantial hit," said Loverin.

"You kind of prepare yourself a little bit for what you may see and then you just fall into your training. You just fall into what you have to do."

At first, he says he and his colleagues didn't know there were two people inside the car because of the way the seats were so mangled. One seat was completely over top of the other so responders could only see one victim.

They cut out the back door to pull Micah out and had to cut out the passenger seat and half of the steering wheel to get Sarah.

For Micah and Sarah, they're grateful that despite the seriousness of the accident, the responding firefighters like Loverin didn't give up hope.

"I have never ever thought it was hopeless because there's always a chance," said Loverin.

'How quickly life can change'

Micah and Sarah say the accident changed their lives forever.

"Sarah was 25 and I was 30 at the time of the accident. The life we knew no longer exists," said Micah.

Following the accident, Micah had to relearn how to walk through intensive rehab while his wife Sarah was in a coma.

"Nobody told me how bad she was because they didn't want it to affect my recovery and so I just thought she was sleeping when I had seen her a couple times," said Micah.

Sarah did wake up, however, and is now able to get around with a wheelchair and more recently with a walker.

For the couple, seeing Loverin for the first time since the accident was emotional.

"It's unbelievable. I'm getting choked up just thinking about how he saved my life. I think that's incredible," said Sarah.

For Loverin, he's happy to know the couple survived.

"Automatically I thought well this is a great success," said Loverin. "I wish all the extrications turned out like that because unfortunately they don't. So I was relieved and it just goes to show you how quickly life can change." 

To hear the full interview listen to the audio labelled Thanks for lifesaving rescue, 10 years later.