Brendan Caputo: A Modern Day Good Samaritan

A Modern Day Good Samaritan

Brendan Caputo, a Knight of Columbus from All Saints Council in Lake Wylie, South Carolina is a modern day example of the Good Samaritan.

One morning Brendan was walking his dog when he heard a loud crash. As he continued to walking, he heard a moan coming from the area of the crash and knew he had to investigate. When he arrived at the area from where the cry was emanating, he found a man on a boat lift with severe injuries. The man was moving very slowly with both arms hanging at his sides and blood flowing from each sleeve.

Brendan leapt into action. He got the individual to stop moving and helped him down to the ground. He discovered that the injuries were the result of a boat lift that had broke loose and were also quite severe: the lift had broken both the man’s arms and nearly severed his left hand.

Brendan knew he must act quickly. Using a piece of rope, he applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. He tried to call 911 using the injured man's cell phone, but the call failed. Brendan then called home to his wife, Rosemary, who alerted emergency medical technicians. Brendan continued to provide medical care to the injured man, adjusting the tourniquet and elevating his arms to slow the bleeding until help arrived on the scene and the man was taken to the hospital.

Brendan later visited the injured man in the hospital, and discovered he was recovering well from his injuries. Thankfully, doctors were able to save the man’s hand.

Brendan recalled later a profound feeling that the Lord was at work helping both of them to get through their ordeal.

Brendan’s efforts not only prevented the victim from losing his left hand, but mostly likely helped to save his life. They were also an inspiration to his brother Knights. “This is just another example of the type of men that we have in the Knights of Columbus,” said fellow Knight Ed Griffin, “who will go to the aid of someone, rather than just turn around and walk away.”