Raritan Woman Saves Hillsborough Man Suffering From Heart Attack

RARITAN, NJ — It was truly meant to be for Megan Milota to be in the right place at the right time to save a Hillsborough man's life, who was suffering from a heart attack on Valentine's Day.

"It was something so simple," Milota said of her lifesaving efforts. "I am glad my friend who was supposed to go into the store forgot his mask."

It was luck that Milota, a CPR instructor, just happened to be in Raritan for the weekend for her son's ice hockey program. She currently splits her time between living in Maryland and Raritan where her family is in the process of moving full time.

This past Sunday, Milota was taking her son's coach to pick up lobster for his wife to celebrate Valentine's Day. When they arrived on East Somerset Street the coach told Milota he forgot his mask and asked her to go inside for him.

Milota walked into a restaurant but they didn't have any lobster so the coach asked Milota to try next door at Castillo Fresh Seafood Market instead.

"When I walked in I saw the gentleman on the ground and I saw a woman on the phone talking to 911. I heard her say 'I don't know how to do CPR' to the 911 operator," said Milota.

Milota immediately sprung into action. She took the 52-year-old Hillsborough man's pulse and began chest compressions.

"I did about 300 compressions when [Raritan Police Sgt. Everett] Holt took over," said Milota.

Holt along with Officers Christopher Hirsch and Andrew Ragati arrived about a minute after the 911 call went out.

Holt said Milota gave the officers valuable time to set up the defibrillator and then took over with CPR. They used the Automated External Defibrillators to shock the man twice.

Medics and EMS members from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerville then came and shocked him one more time before he became conscious.

It was later learned the man suffered a heart attack and is now recovering at a nearby hospital.

"She was extremely professional in her actions," said Holt. "She was definitely instrumental in saving his life. One of the many actions that day. Early CPR for a cardiac event is very important to keep blood flowing to the organs and brain to sustain life."

Milota has been certified since 2009 and this was her first time performing CPR in real life.

"I've done it so many times in training and my training just kicked in and took over," said Milota at the time.

Milota got CPR certified after one of her twins was born and placed on a heart monitor.

"I had to learn CPR to bring her home from the NICU," said Milota.

But she says she had to learn by watching a video and it wasn't enough.

"On the first day we had Emily home, her heart monitor went off and I panicked. She stopped breathing. The ambulance came and saved her. Luckily, Emily is fine today but other people might not be in that situation," said Milota.

It became her mission to become a CPR instructor to teach others to react immediately and not panic.

Luckily for the Hillsborough man and for Milota she did not panic on Valentine's Day.

"I didnt even think. I just jumped into action. If you do the right training you get right into action," said Milota.

Everything appears to have come full circle from her being in Raritan, her learning to do CPR, and being at the store at the right time.

"Life is short. I realized that when Emily coded. I honestly believe I was meant to be there. To walk into that store at that time," said Milota.

Holt presented Milota with a Citizen Award and an awards ceremony is planned for later on in the year when COVID restrictions are eased.

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