Officers Come to Aid of Collapsed Band Member at March in D.C.

May 15, 2014
Orlando Lt. Douglas Goerke and St. Louis County, Mo. Officer Gary Robertson helped revived the man.

Two officers came to the aid of a band member who collapsed at the 19th Annual Emerald Society & Pipe Band March and Service in Washington, D.C. Wednesday night.

Orlando Lt. Douglas Goerke and St. Louis County, Mo. Officer Gary Robertson came to the aid of the member of the Lake County, Ind. Sheriff's Department pipe and drum band after he suffered a medical emergency, according to WJLA-TV.

"I simply walked up to hand him a bottle of water thinking it was a heat-related illness, and it ended up being a cardiac arrest," Robertson told the news station.

Goerke said that he didn't hesitate to jump in and help.

"I'm a paramedic from Florida, so I went over immediately started to render aid with Officer Robertson."

After confirming the man did not have a pulse, the officer started chest compressions and then used a defibrillator that was brought over to them.

"I think that's what truly helped him," Lt. Goerke said. "In total, there were three shocks delivered. By the time he did leave here, he was breathing and kicking on his own."

It appears the band member will be OK and is currently recovering in a nearby hospital.

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