Sean Knight Saves a Life, Gets Mayor's Award

Sean Knight knew something wasn't right.

He was driving down the road on March 12 and noticed a woman kneeling over on the side of the road.

"There were three cars in front of me that just drove by," Knight, the Housing Inspector for Galloway Township and a volunteer firefighter in Mullica Township, said. "I thought I saw her kneeling down, maybe she was arguing with someone or getting fresh air."

In reality, Anne Ryan was having a heart attack. Knight decided to turn around and see if she needed help, and he ended up saving her life.

"I said to her, 'Do you need a hand?' and she said, 'Yes,'" said Knight, who received the Mayor's Award during the Galloway Township Council meeting Tuesday night, March 27. "I called an ambulance. She started to lose conciousness."

Knight said Ryan was still breathing, but her pulse was low. He said he brought her back to her senses by making noises and squeezing her hand. The way Ryan told the story made it sound as though Knight was underrating his actions.

"My cardiologist told me I had died and he brought me back," said Ryan, who added that she had a 100 percent blocked right coronary artery.

Ryan suffered the heart attack while she was out for her typical two-mile walk.

"(The walk) wasn't unusual for me," Ryan said.

The heart attack was unexpected, but Ryan was grateful to have Knight there to help her. Last Friday, March 24, the two met and Knight walked Ryan through what happened while she was unconcious.

"That's a great story," Deputy Mayor Tony Coppola said during Tuesday night's council meeting. "We've got a good crew and good people here in Galloway Township."