On Monday, June 7th, Chief Deputy Shane Hilliard, presented the Life Saving award to Yancey county Sheriff’s Detention Sergeant Nicholas Hensley. This was in response to an incident that happened on April 5th when, Sgt. Hensley responded to an inmate housing area of the detention facility, due to hearing a loud banging noise. When Sgt. Hensley entered the area he observed an inmate giving the universal sign for chocking, he did not appear to be breathing, and was blue in color. Sgt. Hensley immediately entered the cell and began administering the Heimlich maneuver. While performing the Heimlich maneuver Hensley successfully dislodged a piece of food that was obstructing the inmate’s airway. The inmate was then able to resume normal breathing. The training, experience, and quick thinking of Sgt. Hensley saved this inmate’s life.
Sgt. Hensley has almost 12 years of service in corrections/detention. He began his career in September of 2009 with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Prisons. While there, Hensley was promoted to the rank of Sergeant before leaving in 2018 to begin working at the Buncombe County Detention Facility. In April of 2019, Hensley became part of the team at the Yancey County Detention Facility as a night shift Sergeant. The Yancey Sheriff’s Department thanks Sgt. Nicholas Hensley, not only for his actions related to saving this inmate’s life, but for his continued hard work, dedication, and service to Yancey County.
