Newport Beach Harbor Patrol Deputies Honored for Saving Man's Life

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - A Newport Beach man is alive today thanks to the heroic lifesaving efforts of two Orange County Sheriff’s deputies.

Sgt. D.J. Haldeman and Deputy Ron Reyes were among 28 men and women honored by the sheriff’s department with Medals of Valor. The pair received the Lifesaving Medal for tirelessly rendering CPR to save the life of an 85-year-old man who had stopped breathing and fell, fracturing his skull. Here is their story of determination courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Harbor Patrol Sgt. D.J. Haldeman and Deputy Ron Reyes Saved the Life of an 85-Year-Old Heart Attack Victim

In the early afternoon on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2015, Sgt. DJ Haldeman was working Harbor Patrol in Newport Beach Harbor. He tied the patrol boat up to the ferry landing at Balboa Island and was monitoring boat traffic when he was approached by a concerned citizen. The man said an elderly man had just fallen and needed medical attention. DJ left his boat to investigate. When he arrived at the boardwalk area, DJ saw the 85-year-old victim lying motionless on the ground, bleeding from lacerations to his face he incurred when he fell.

An off-duty nurse, Vickie Molaskey, was trying to roll the subject onto his back. A Good Samaritan passerby, Trieu Nguyen, was using a shirt to control the bleeding on the victim’s ace and another citizen, David Beek, had already retrieved an automated external defibrillator (AED) from his nearby business and applied the AED pads. DJ called for additional Deputies and Newport Beach Fire Department paramedics and began to assist the civilians. Once DJ and Vickie rolled the man onto his back, the AED advised Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) should be started. DJ administered four cycles of chest compressions then retrieved a resuscitator mask from his boat while Vickie continued chest compressions. They conducted CPR for approximately six minutes during which time two shocks were administered by the AED. When Deputy Ron Reyes and Deputy Kevin Webster arrived on scene, Ron took over chest compressions while Kevin relieved Trieu, gently cradling the victim’s head while CPR continued.

Paramedics arrived after an extended response due to enormous holiday traffic on the narrow streets of Newport Harbor and Balboa Island. They set up their advanced emergency medical equipment, applied a cervical collar around the victim’s neck and relieved DJ, using a resuscitator bag to provide greater air flow. Two more shocks were delivered by the AED as Ron continued administering chest compressions until relieved by a firefighter after eight long minutes. After a total of 18 minutes of continuous CPR, the victim finally regained a pulse. He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital for additional medical care. Not only did the man have three blocked arteries, he also suffered a skull fracture when he hit the ground. Miraculously, a nurse later noted, he sustained no apparent brain damage despite his injuries and the prolonged CPR. The operating surgeon commented he could tell the outstanding quality and effectiveness of the CPR given due to the bruised condition of the man’s ribcage.

Sergeant DJ Haldeman, Deputy Ron Reyes and Licensed Vocational Nurse Vickie Molaskey, assisted by others, utilized their skill and training to deliver lifesaving chest compressions for an extended period of time. The fire captain stated their persistent and efficient CPR undoubtedly saved the man’s life.

Photo Courtesy of the orange County Sheriff's Department