Boy, 4, With No Pulse, 'Turning Blue' Saved By Hero Officers: PD

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A 4-year-old boy is alive Tuesday morning, thanks to the help of Suffolk County police officers.

According to Suffolk County Police, officers responded to a call at a Central Islip home at 8:55 a.m., where a child was not breathing. Upon arrival, officers observed the child, who suffers from congenital central hypoventilation syndrome — a disorder that affects normal breathing —turning blue, police said. Officer Matthew Denicola began CPR on the child, and Officer Matthew Carrello assisted with care. Officer Samantha Ventura, who is a fluent Spanish speaker, communicated with the child’s family, who spoke limited English, police said.

Members of Exchange Ambulance of the Islips responded to take the child to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore. While in the ambulance, Third Precinct Officer Makesi Oliver, who is a member of the SCPD Medical Crisis Action Team, then noticed the child had no pulse. Oliver utilized an automatic external defibrillator on the child to regain a pulse, police said.

The child remains in stable condition, police said.