Westchester Cop Saves Man's Life On Christmas [VIDEO]

CORTLANDT, NY — A Westchester County Police officer is in line for an award for saving a man's life on Christmas Day. It's a present you just can’t beat – the gift of life.

On Monday, Officer David Dirienzo performed the Heimlich maneuver on a man who was choking and in severe distress in the town of Cortlandt. Dirienzo will be nominated for the department’s Life Saving Award as a result of his quick and decisive actions to aid the stricken man, Commissioner George N. Longworth said.

The incident began about 7:15 p.m. when Dirienzo observed a vehicle driving erratically on Route 6 near the Cortlandt Town Center. Dirienzo activated his lights and siren and pulled the vehicle over as it entered the town center shopping complex.

When Dirienzo approached the driver, he observed that the man was gagging, red-faced and unable to speak. He asked the motorist if he was choking and the driver nodded that he was.

Dirienzo pulled the 48-year-old man from the vehicle and administered the Heimlich maneuver. After several thrusts, an object blocking the man’s airway was expelled. The man resumed breathing normally almost immediately.

Dirienzo called for an ambulance as a precaution. The man was evaluated by EMS personnel from the Lake Mohegan Fire Department and declined further medical attention. Before leaving the scene, Edward Salvato thanked the officer for saving his life. He repeated the thanks later, at headquarters.

Salvato told Dirienzo that he was driving to his daughter’s home in Mohegan Lake when he began choking. He said he was trying to get to the Town Center to pull over and try to dislodge the item on his own.

“It is very fortunate that Officer Dirienzo was present to provide immediate assistance,” Longworth said. “When someone is choking, every second counts.”

Images/ Westchester County Police Department