A Maine police officer and National Guard member helped save the life of a man at a gym last month.
The rescue happened April 15 when Old Orchard Beach Police Officer Sokthearrith Dong was at a fitness club in Saco, WMTW-TV reports. Just as he was walking in, a man fell off an elliptical machine and slammed his head on the ground.
Dong, a patrol supervisor with the department, leaped into action when someone yelled for help.
“I felt for a pulse, but I didn’t feel anything,” he said. “The trainer in there came over to help. We put the AED (automated external defibrillator) on him and followed the instructions.”
The machine went through two cycle of compressions and prompted Dong, an Airman 1st Class with the New Hampshire National Guard, administer two shocks. That surprised him.
“I remember thinking, ‘No way, this doesn’t seem right,’ but I kept following the instructions the machine was giving me," he said. "It seemed like the man had agonal breathing, but he was still with us.”
Once fire department medics reached the scene, they gave the man a third shock before rushing him to a Portland hospital. The man was treated for cardiac arrest and recovering.
“His ability and willingness to initiate emergency care immediately saved this man’s life,” said Saco Deputy Fire Chief David Hamel. “It goes without saying, Airman Dong came to the needs of a complete stranger in his gravest hour, and for that, we are all grateful.”
