Danbury Firefighter Who Saved Neighbor’s Life is Honored

DANBURY, CT — An off-duty firefighter who helped save his neighbor's life was honored last week as the Danbury Exchange Club’s Firefighter of the Year.

In June, Patrick Heron was at home speaking with his neighbor's wife from across the street when they realized the neighbor, 50, had collapsed on the front lawn. The firefighter rushed to his aid, and determined he had no pulse. Heron performed CPR, and was shortly joined by off-duty Danbury police officer Sgt. Robert Conrad who was passing by. Both men administered CPR until an ambulave arrived and took the neighbor to the hospital, where me made a full recovery.

“For a cardiac arrest patient a minimum amount of time between arrest and the implementation of lifesaving measures is critical for survival," Captain Jaime Schiller said in a release. "FF Heron and Sgt. Conrad's willingness to provide patient care, with no available tools or personal protective equipment, was a definitive factor in the successful resuscitation of this patient.”

Heron, who joined the city’s fire department in February 2007, was honored at the Exchange Club’s 19th annual Firefighter of the Year dinner at Anthony’s Lake Club on Thursday evening. He will also be recognized at the State of Connecticut Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year Dinner on October 18th at the Aqua Turf.

Photograph provided.