Babylon bar co-owner rescued by officer after collapsing during performance on stage
BABYLON, Long Island (WABC) -- The co-owner of a bar in Suffolk County is recovering in the hospital after he suffered a heart attack at his business while performing on stage.
Dave Drew has been singing at Open-Mic Night at Bartini for the last 20 years, singing many of the songs with his wife who passed away two years ago.
"He loves his music and he writes songs that depict him and his passions," said Dawn Riolo, the co-owner of Bartini.
Last Monday, the unthinkable happened while Drew was on stage.
The Bartini co-owner had a massive "widow makers heart attack" while singing, according to his family.
"Mid-sentence he just fell over," Riolo said.
As seen in a video, people at the bar ran over to help the 67-year-old, called 911, and others ran out.
First Precinct Officer Michael Pascale happened to be right outside of the bar patrolling the neighborhood.
"Bunch of patrons ran out of a bar and flagged me down," Pascale said.
The officer realized Drew barely had a heart rhythm. He then grabbed his defibrillator, shocked Drew and began administering CPR.
Moments later, EMS workers arrived and safely got Drew into an ambulance.
Drew was taken over to Good Samaritan Hospital where he remains in critical but stable condition.
Riolo says this could have ended much worse, and they are grateful an officer happened to be so close.
"I don't feel like a hero. I think I was at the right place at the right time," Officer Pascale said.
Drew has Stage 4 colon cancer and was singing his song that bears the lyrics "Time Waits for No One" when he collapsed.
Now, time, his family and friends are all waiting for him to return to the stage.
"Dave ya scared the heck out of us, don't do that ever again and we are pulling for you," Riolo said.
"Maybe one day I can have a beer with him when he gets out," Pascale said.
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