Foxborough Firefighter Saves Neighbor's Life

NORTON, MA — An off-duty Foxborough firefighter helped saved his neighbor's life who Norton police said was having a heart attack. Firefighter Mike Whelahan, along with the help of three Norton police officers, performed CPR and successfully restarted the pulse of his 54-year-old neighbor Tuesday.

Around 5 p.m., police and fire officials were called to a home on the 200th block of Mansfield Avenue. Norton police Lt. Thomas Petersen was working a detail for the Slipnot concert at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield and rushed to the scene. Emergency personnel arrived after, along with Whelahan, who was home at the time.

"All collaborated in performing CPR and utilizing the Automated External Defibillator (AED) from one of the cruisers, before additional rescue personnel arrived," Lt. Todd Jackson said in a statement. "The patient got a pulse back and began spontaneous breathing on their own."

Whelehan's neighbor opened his eyes, began looking around and was speaking coherently following CPR, police said. He was taken to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro.