The law enforcement communities of Rosendale and Marbletown came together Saturday morning to honor the lifesaving actions of Rosendale Police Officer Patricia Vincent and the Marbletown First Aid Unit (MFAU). Last month, Officer Vincent and members of MFAU performed and assisted successful resuscitation to a man who suffered a medical emergency and went into cardiac arrest.

“There's nobody happier to be here,” said John Cornell, who attended the event at MFAU’s station to personally greet the responders who saved his life. “Thanks for pulling me back from the abyss.”

On the morning of February 4, Cornell was driving along Route 213 in High Falls when he suffered a heart attack and lost consciousness, crashing his car. His wife and three dogs were in the car, but miraculously no one was hurt in the crash, which totaled his vehicle.

About five minutes after receiving a dispatch for a car crash, Officer Vincent arrived at the scene to find Cornell unconscious and unresponsive. EMT trained, she immediately began performing CPR. MFAU responders arrived soon afterwards, and father and daughter EMTs Paul and Sophia Medici aided Vincent in administering CPR. After three shocks with an AED, the responders restored Cornell’s pulse. The High Falls Fire Department loaded Cornell into an ambulance and transported him to HealthAlliance in Kingston.

“I'm very proud of everyone involved in this incident,” said MFAU Chief Charles Foster at the event, which drew members of each department involved in the save.

According to the American Heart Association, survival rates following CPR attempts outside hospitals only lie at about 10%. Saves essentially depend on the quality of the administered CPR as well as the actions taken immediately afterwards, like defibrillation.

“I’ve been in many situations before, but I've never been a part of a miracle like this,” said Officer Vincent.

A Kingston native and longtime Rosendale resident, Vincent has now served on the police force for nine years. At Saturday’s event, she, the Medicis, MFAU EMT Dominic Carlucci, Rob Shultis of Mobile Life Support Services, and Ulster County Deputy Sheriff Gabrielle Lalima were presented with Pride of Rosendale certificates by Town Supervisor Jeanne Walsh. In addition, County Executive Jen Metzger presented the responders with unit citations.

“The most valuable thing in the world is human life,” said Metzger. “And the work you do to preserve and save our residents in need is invaluable.”

Cornell also handed out awards to the responders on behalf of MFAU.

“The amount of effort that you folks put in — I'm really blessed,” he said. “I appreciate that very much.”