Cardiac Arrest On NJ Transit Bus By Lincoln Tunnel; Cops Save Man

“Protecting and serving” the community doesn’t always mean making arrests. Sometimes it means saving a life.

A quick response and adept teamwork from a network of Port Authority emergency responders helped to save a man having a heart-related emergency just as the Tuesday evening rush hours kicked off, police said.

The incident took place around 4:25 p.m. when a NJ Transit bus driver pulled over at entrance of the North Tube of the Lincoln Tunnel and informed PAPD Officer Nicholas Armenti that he had a cardiac arrest on board the bus.

Here’s how the situation unfolded, according to the Port Authority of NY/NJ:

“Upon entering the bus, a patron on the bus was performing CPR while the victim remained on the seat. Officer Nicholas Armenti removed the victim from the bus to allow for a better location for CPR. PAPD Officer Kevin McGimpsey and PAPD Officer Krystal Armenti arrived on scene shortly thereafter and all three officers commenced CPR on the victim. An AED defibrillator was placed on the victim by Port Authority Tunnel and Bridge agents Chris Kerrigan and Nicholas Natole. They administered approximately three shocks on the victim. The victim regained his pulse while in the ambulance and en route to the hospital he began to regain his vitals.”

The man was taken to Roosevelt Hospital for further evaluation, authorities said.

Some of the Port Authority first responders involved in Tuesday’s rescue have been involved with heartwarming rescues in the recent past. Nicholas Armenti was one of the officers who helped to save a lost dog near the Lincoln Tunnel during a snowstorm last year. (Read about the rescue here)

Krystal Armenti – who is not related to Nicholas – recently assisted with the delivery of a baby outside the Lincoln Tunnel. (Read about the incident here)

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Photo: Port Authority of NY/NJ