BOSTON (WBZ-AM) – Several good Samaritans are being credited with saving the life of a man who collapsed and went into cardiac arrest, during a 5K race in Franklin Park on Thanksgiving Day.
EMT’s crews who were staged nearby for the event responded within minutes. They used a cardiac defibrillator to restore the victim’s heartbeat 3-times, but the quick thinking of good Samaritan’s had already saved the man’s life.
“What they did, was buy the body time to allow our people to get there to do more advanced care,”said Susan Schiller, Deputy Superintendent with BostonEMS.
Schiller said they were at the right place at the right time and knew what to do.
CPR, a life-saver, that’s easy to administer
“Right on the sternum, push hard, push fast and we will arrive quickly and take over for you.” Schiller said.
The man was awake and talking as he was being taking away to the hospital. It’s unclear whether the victim was a runner or spectator at the event in Franklin Park.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mike Macklin reports.