Suffolk Police Officers Lauded For Saving 4-Year-Old East Moriches Boy's Life

SHIRLEY, NY —Two police officers from the 7th Precinct in Shirley were recognized at the Suffolk County Legislature in Hauppauge for saving the life of a four-year-old East Moriches boy who fell on a metal straw and nearly bled to death.

In June, officers Ryan Hughes and Mike Magioncalda responded to a call that the four-year-old fell while drinking from a metal straw and the implement went into his mouth, penetrating the artery in his he neck causing severe bleeding, Suffolk Legis. Jim Mazzarella's office said.

There was no way to control the bleeding in the field, so they made a judgement, proving to be the right one, and put the boy on oxygen and got him to an East Moriches ambulance where he was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment, according to Mazzarella's office.

Additional officers from the 7th, as well as highway patrol and the 6th Precinct, were also used to help control traffic, as Hughes drove the car and Magioncalda operated the radio to provide updates of their location, so that the other officers knew where to close down intersections, Mazzarella's office said.

It ultimately allowed Emergency Medical Services to get the child to the hospital as quickly as possible and resulted in saving the child’s life, according to Mazzarella's office.

The attending emergency room physician at Stony Brook commended the two officers in a letter to Insp. Matthew McCormick, commander of the 7th Precinct.

The physician wrote that in a scene which would "give pause, even as a double board-certified emergency medicine and emergency medical services physician with over a decade of experience as a paramedic," the officers "maintained order and security with the utmost professionalism."

"Their presence and demeanor were pivotal in allowing our EMS crew to devote their undivided attention to the assessment and treatment of a complex, critically-ill child," the letter continued. "They directly supported the child's parents on what I can only presume to be the worst day of their lives, demonstrating genuine compassion towards the community they serve. During a circumstance which, as cliche as it sounds, every moment truly matters, they without question were crucial in helping facilitate an on-scene time for our EMS crew of less than four minutes, and orchestrated a safe, rapid escort of the crew to definitive care at Stony Brook University Hospital.”

The actions of the officers "are a true testament to the outstanding training and education our Suffolk County police officers receive," Mazzarella's office wrote in a Facebook post, adding, "We congratulate both of these fine officers and thank them for their exemplary service."

The legislator's office expects to reach out to the EMS professionals "who were an intricate part of this rescue so that we can honor them as well."