Richard Savicki, fourth grade teacher at St. James Elementary School, is a life saver...literally!
Richard recently helped save 65-year-old Michael Gibson's life at a track event in Port Jefferson. Gibson suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed. That's when Richard helped perform life-saving CPR!
Mr. Gibson was without a heartbeat for 10 minutes but Mr. Savicki's actions kept him alive in time before Suffolk County Police and Terryville Fire Department Paramedics arrived.
An automated chest compressor was applied, and an AED was used. Miraculously, Mr. Gibson woke up in the ambulance, was taken to Mather Hospital where the staff in the new cardiac catheterization lab went to work – and discovered severe coronary artery disease.
Mr. Gibson was transferred to South Shore University Hospital where he underwent a quadruple bypass.
Today Richard was among those honored at a press conference at South Shore hospital, where he reunited with Mr. Gibson for the first time since the incident, and the SCSD was there to capture the moment!
Mr. Savicki, the SCSD salutes you. Watch our interview with Richard below!
