Austin Officer To Be Honored For Saving Woman's Life

AUSTIN, TX — An Austin police officer who performed CPR on a woman who had stopped breathing late last year will be honored for his life-saving work this weekend.

Ahead of its annual police gala, officials provided details of the real-life drama that unfolded on Nov. 19, 2018, in Central Austin. Just after 5 a.m., officer Corey Turi responded to an emergency call from a man named Matthew reporting his fiancé, Jessica, was not breathing. Relating the story in a press advisory, officials recalled how updates to the situation heard on the scanner detailed the situation worsening as Turi rushed to the scene — with the woman turning blue for lack of oxygen to her system.

Arriving within minutes, Turi took over chest compressions from Matthew, alerting dispatchers the woman was responding to the CPR but her breathing was labored. Austin-Travis County EMS medics arrived on the scene to take over life-saving techniques in attempts to save the woman's life.

What medic Lee Nudelman at the scene was the work of a pro — and a scene illustrating an uncommon grace under pressure — as he witnessed Turi's first aid technique, he recalled: "Upon our arrival on scene Officer Turi was performing quality CPR on this patient. We know in EMS that the chain of survival only works if CPR is initiated quickly and effectively and Officer Turi’s willingness and quick action to perform CPR until the Fire Department arrived was an integral part of saving the patient’s life.”

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Turi and the now-married couple (with their puppies in tow, police noted) recently reunited for photos at the Spider House Café, 2908 Fruth St., where the two had their first date. At the gathering, Jessica offered details about how grave her situation had been, as she would later learn from health workers: "I had a witnessed v-fib cardiac arrest with CPR and ROSC at home on Monday. That evening and through Tuesday morning I had 3 more cardiac arrests and 1 cardiac syncope (Long QT, ventricular tachycardia). I spent 6 days in the ICU and a total of 12 days in the hospital. According to the Institute of Medicine, 4 out of 5 cardiac arrests occur in the home, and more than 90% of individuals with cardiac arrest die before reaching the hospital. Decreasing the time between cardiac arrest onset and the first chest compressions is critical."

Officer Corey Turi reunites with the couple who endured a harrowing morning last year when Jessica stopped breathing. Photo courtesy of the Austin Police Department.

Were it not for Turi's quick actions and considerable training, she might not be alive today, she suggested: "No words can express and no act of gratitude can relay my heartfelt appreciation for everything Officer Turi did for me on 11/19/18. If it were not for his speedy arrival, CPR training and collaboration with AFD, I would not be here today. He truly is a super hero.”

Alive and well one year after that harrowing night, she had a message for Turi: “It takes a really special person to do what you do. Thank you for being you and choosing to serve others with that amazing heart of yours. You helped bring me back to life and gave me a fighting chance to conquer the many battles that followed suit. You are awesome!”

For his efforts, Turi will be honored with a lifesaving medal at this year’s 2019 Stars of Distinction Awards Gala. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Hilton Austin Downtown, 500 E. 4th St.