NYPD officers save man's life on 60th wedding anniversary
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ron Gargalowitz, his wife and their entire family were out in the New York City celebrating the couple's 60th wedding anniversary, when he suddenly had a heart attack in Times Square.
That's when good Samaritans jumped in and went searching for help. They flagged down a passing patrol car and NYPD officers went to work to save 83-year-old Gargalowitz.
NYPD Officer Pepe performed CPR as his partner called for an ambulance and an AED, better known as a defibrillator.
Officer Michael Tommassino, NYPD, described the situation:
When we got to the scene, grabbed AED, ran to aided, opened up. Slapped on pads, waited for directions, shocked once.
By the time the ambulance arrived, the officers had already got Gargalowitz' heart to start beating again, and he was also breathing on his own.
The family was extremely relieved. Gargalowitz' daughter, Christine Yoken, praised the officers:
These officers saved my father's life. It's nothing short of a miracle.
They not only saved my father, they saved our whole family. I can't thank them enough
The officers visited Gargalowitz in the hospital and gave him a gift to remind him that he has guardian angels, dressed in blue, in the NYPD.
NYPD Officer Robert Pepe commented and said, "There's no better feeling in the world."