Fayetteville firefighter honored with Blue Angels ride after saving child

Fox - 5 Atlanta
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Oct 29, 2026
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Got a five alarm thrill ride with the Navy's Blue Angels today.
Fox 5's Doug Evans reports.
It was his community's thank you for saving a child's life.
Fayetteville firefighter Ryan Hyde traded in his red rig
for something a little faster and a little more blue.
Here's Ryan strapping into a Blue Angels F-A-18 Super Hornet.
He was nominated to ride with the Blue Angels after saving
a six-year-old boy's life during cardiac arrest last February.
Strapped in with a thumbs up, the taxi, and then the takeoff.
Doesn't seem like much phase as Ryan,
chewing gum and smiling through the demo ride with the Blue Angels.
Good disposition for a firefighter,
paramedic, and probably a fighter pilot, too.
Although Ryan says he's not ready to change jobs just yet.
I heard the pilot say he couldn't do your job. How about you doing his?
Oh, I don't know how they do that.
He said those consistent Gs the entire time.
He said they fly for about an hour at a time every show.
I only did 35 minutes.
So it was crazy in the amount of hours
and the combat tours that he's done.
There he is pulling six Gs in a vertical climb.
And then the test of all tests, 7.5 Gs in a tight turn.
Here's what he had to say about it later.
How are you feeling?
I feel fantastic.
It was a blast.
It's amazing all the stuff that they go through with these things.
And it was awesome to get to experience
something that's once in a lifetime.
Along with his ride in the backseat of the Blue Angels,
Ryan has received a community award for saving the little boy's life.
The Blue Angels will perform both Saturday and Sunday during
the Atlanta Air Show at Peachtree City's Falcon Field.
With the ride over, Ryan knows what's
in store for him back at the firehouse.
You ready for all the ribbon that's going to take place
when you get back to the firehouse?
It's already started. It started last night at the station.
I actually worked last night and got off shift this morning,
and they were already into me.
And so, yeah, there's always been this old saying,
if you make the news, you've got to buy steak dinners for everybody.
So I guess I've got to buy dinner for everybody.
Worth the price.
It is, it is, it is.
In Peachtree City, Doug Evans, Fox 5 News.
Oh, what a great experience.
