Off-Duty Medford Firefighter Saves Golfer In Cardiac Arrest

MEDFORD, MA — A Medford firefighter was commended for saving a life after his friend went into cardiac arrest while playing golf recently. Capt. Frank Giliberti III was playing in the Tufts University Baseball Alumni golf tournament at the Brookmeadow Golf Course in Canton May 3 when a member of his group fell to the ground.

The 37-year-old began severely convulsing and had trouble breathing, Giliberti's friend told the Medford Fire Department. Giliberti began giving the man CPR and was able to get his heart working again. He also directed the other two members of the group to call 911 and alert the golf course staff.

The man was initially believed to be having a seizure, though it was later determined to be cardiac arrest from a genetic heart defect. A doctor at Brigham and Women's Hospital told his parents the man likely would not have survived if Giliberti had not immediately began giving him CPR.

"Frank's professionalism, expertise and competence saved our son's life," the man's parents told the Medford Fire Department.

In a statement Monday, Medford Fire Chief Frank Giliberti Jr. — Capt. Giliberti's father — said he is "extremely proud to have him as a son."