As he retires BC Ambulance unit chief Bob Kopp says he hasn't worked a day in his life.
“I’ve been here 42 years and the reason I stayed was because I loved the job,” the 70-year-old said as he worked his last shift at the Williams Lake Ambulance Station on New Year’s Eve day.
There have been sad moments through the years, Kopp recalled.
“You think about the people, you never really get by that, but helping people is the rewarding part.”
Working in a region that spans 50,000 square miles, meant Kopp travelled to Bella Coola with patients or into the Cariboo Mountains to assist with rescues.
"I remember rescuing a fellow from a mountain ledge near the top of Eureaka Peak," he recalled.
The helicopter had its belly in the snow and remained running while its tail was hanging on a cliff.
Kopp had to jump out in the deep snow, splint and drag the man with a broken foot into the ambulance while the pilot concentrated on keeping the helicopter stable.
And during his career Kopp assisted in delivering 22 babies.
“I had to remove a cord wrapped around the neck once, but that was the only serious incident,” Kopp said of the deliveries.
“You see the happiness and the sadness in the this career. You learn to cope.”
Looking back over his career Kopp said he believed his management style helped him and others while on the job.
“I’ve been the unit chief all this time but I’m part of a team,” he insisted. “We have to all co-operate with one another, talk to each other.”
If someone at the station falls the others help them out.
“Nobody’s an island in this business,” he said. “You don’t kick them when they’re down.”
Kopp moved to Williams Lake from Ontario in 1972 and began working with the local ambulance crew.
In those days Hazel Waters ran the service out of her home in Glendale with Dave Walters. When the provincial government took over the ambulance service in 1974, Waters was ready to retire and appointed Kopp as acting unit chief.
He never left the post.
Early in his career, there were many long days and nobody counted hours then.
“Now you can’t go over 16 hours,” he said. “One time I went out to Nemiah Valley, brought a patient in, went out to Kamloops and brought a patient back, and then there was a call out to Twin Lakes in Nemiah Valley.”
Because he was so tired, yet happened to be a pilot, Kopp rented an airplane, flew out and picked up the patient from Nemiah.
When asked if he owns a plane today, he said no that he owns a boat.
“I’d rather be out on the water fishing any day,” he smiled, adding he fishes regularly at Quesnel Lake and Bella Coola.
In his spare time he creates bentwood lawn furniture that’s been selling like hotcakes.
Paramedic Don Piper has been named acting unit chief to replace Kopp until a permanent unit chief is named.
As Kopp’s paramedic’s licence will be good for a few more years, he said he hopes to continue using it in some capacity.
Kopp and his wife Sandra have three grown children and six grandchildren.
Their son Mark has been at BC Ambulance in Williams Lake for 23 years, Dean is at Parallel Lumber and daughter Julie is in McBride working at the hospital and a bank.
"It's been a higlight to work alongside my son."
Families of paramedics often pay a big price and are often the real heroes, Kopp said.
"I think of families and loved ones who endure the disappointments when we are called away."