Police Restart 'Face-Down' Totowa Man's Pulse At Newark Airport

NEWARK, NJ — Quick work from Port Authority police helped to save the life of a 58-year-old Totowa man at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday, officials said.

The Totowa resident was travelling alone inside Terminal A at the airport on Tuesday evening when he experienced a medical emergency. When Port Authority police officers Jennifer Morrone and Matthew Vecchione arrived on the scene, the man was “face-down and unconscious,” Port Authority officials said.

The officers began CPR efforts, eventually administering a shock from an automatic electric defibrillator (AED) which restarted the man’s pulse and revived him, authorities said.

Emergency responders transported the man to Newark Beth Israel Hospital for further treatment.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page here.

Tuesday’s lifesaving incident isn’t the first time in recent history that Port Authority police officers have put their CPR skills to the test.

In November 2017, Port Authority police officers Jessica Toritto and Rebekah Epley came across an unconscious man slumped back in his chair in the Starbucks at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The officers used a shock from an AED to revive the victim.

Emergency medical personnel eventually arrived and took over care for the man. According to EMS workers, the man had gone into cardiac arrest and the quick actions of the officers "saved his life."

• See related article: Port Authority Cops Save Man's Life At Bus Terminal

In December 2015, Port Authority police and an evening commuter teamed up to help save the life of a "man down" in the Pavonia/Newport PATH station in Jersey City.

On arrival, the officers saw a civilian starting CPR on an unresponsive, 86-year-old male. At that point, the officers retrieved a defibrillator and proceeded to take over CPR. The officers deployed the defibrillator, and after a shock the victim regained his pulse and began breathing on his own, authorities said.

• See related article: NJ Cops, Citizen Team Up To Save Life At PATH Station

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Shutterstock