Newark police, local teacher rush to revive collapsed man

NEWARK, NJ (WABC) -- Newark police officers and a local teacher came to the rescue of a person who collapsed on the street Thursday.

Officer Vernon Bradley was working at City Hall when he was alerted that a person on Hill Street was having trouble breathing.

Bradbury found the individual laying on the ground and gasping for air. The officer requested EMS, and Lt. Brian O'Hara responded to the scene.

When he arrived, the victim was not breathing and showed no sign of a pulse. While the lieutenant performed chest compressions, a teacher from a school on Hill Street ran out and handed him an automated external defibrillator.

O'Hara, familiar with the device, turned it on and attached the electrodes to the victim. He continued to perform CPR until Rutgers University Hospital EMS arrived.

The victim was transported to St. Michael's Hospital and was found to have regained a heartbeat, although he remained unresponsive.

"The actions here represent a fine example of what teamwork and working together can bring about," Newark Police Director Eugene Venable said. "Congratulations are in order to all the individuals here who came together to make a difference here today."

The individual's identity is not being released at this time. His present condition is unknown.