Former actress Klaudia Koronel saves elderly patient from Los Angeles fires
Despite being among those affected by the deadly wildfires in the Southern California area, former actress Klaudia Koronel went out of her way to save her 75-year-old patient who was diagnosed with dementia.
Southern California, particularly in Los Angeles’ Eaton, Palisades and Hurst regions, is battling a series of catastrophic wildfires that have burned down several residential areas, business landmarks and other properties.
Koronel, who’s based in Eaton, Pasadena, recalled how she saved the patient’s life in a “Julius Babao Unplugged” interview on Saturday, Jan. 11, saying she saw the latter’s home catching fire. This prompted her to save the patient despite her initial fears.
“Kinekwento ko pa sa family ko na may masamang nangyayari sa Amerika and nakakareceive na ako ng alert na kailangan kong mag-evacuate. Siyempre, nataranta ako. Papalabas na ako papuntang [work], at nakita ko na ang apoy sa labas ng bahay ng pasyente. Gan’un kabilis ang apoy, kumakalat,” she recalled, noting that she was supposed to start her shift as a caregiver at the time.
(I was telling my family that there was something bad happening in the US. I also received an alert that I needed to evacuate. Of course, I was anxious at the time. I was supposed to go to work and I saw the fire outside the patient’s home. That’s how fast the fire spread.)
Article continues after this advertisementWithout having any second thoughts, Koronel said she pulled the 75-year-old female patient and pet cat out of their home. “Tumakbo ako agad sa apoy na nand’un ‘yung pasyente ko, at hinila ko. [Sabi ko], ‘Let’s go. We have to run.’”
Article continues after this advertisement“Wala na akong iniisip. Takot na takot ako kasi first time ko ‘tong naranasan. Ninenerbyos na ako, nagpa-palpitate ang puso ko sa takot,” she continued, disclosing the patient’s name as Anne. “So hinila ko agad ang pasyente ko tapos may pusa, hinahabol habol ko pa, then sinakay ko sa sasakyan ko.”
(I rushed inside and I saw the patient inside, then pulled her to safety. I said, “Let’s go, we have to run.” I wasn’t thinking about anything. But I was very scared because it was my first time going through something like this. I pulled the patient immediately. I also saw that she had a pet cat, and I even chased after it, then loaded them all inside my vehicle.)
Koronel said she was very worried for Anne as she’s stricken with dementia, and was alone at home.
“She’s 75-years-old with dementia, she had no idea what was going on. I cannot in conscience leave her alone because she had no idea that there was a fire going on. Her children were all in faraway places, and she was leaving all by herself. It’s a good thing that we were there,,” she said.
Koronel also recalled that contacting Anne’s family was a tense moment for her, as it was a time when everyone’s “decision-making” was clouded due to the life-threatening situation. The family eventually booked a hotel to ensure Anne’s safety.
READ: Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton among stars to lose homes in LA fires
Despite this, the former actress admitted that she was still disconcerted by the close call, saying it felt like a “nightmare” for her.
“Malayo sila eh, kaya na-end up kami ng pasyente ko sa hotel. Mas maganda ang kalagayan namin sa iba, kasi ‘yung iba, [naka-evacuate] sa school. Kawawa. Wala silang pagkain, wala silang damit. ‘Yung iba, gutom,” she said.
“‘Yung iba, wala nang pera. Ultimo ang mga mayayaman dito, wala na ang mga kotse nila… maraming kawawa at humihingi ng tulong ngayon… delubyo eh. Para kaming hinulugan ng bomba,” continued Koronel.
(The patient’s family is far from her, so we ended up in a hotel. We’re in a better situation than others because some are evacuated in a school. It’s pitiful. They don’t have food and clothes. Others are going hungry. Some don’t have money. Even the rich lost their cars. A lot are in dire situations and are in need of help. It’s like a nightmare. It’s like a bomb fell on us.)
Among the Hollywood celebrities who lost their homes in the Southern California wildfires are Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Adam Brody, Leighton Meester and Jamie Lee Curtis, to name a few.