Arlington Emergency Personnel Revive Man After Town Day Run

Arlington police officers, firefighters and EMTs are being credited with saving a man’s life after the Walter V. Moynihan Town Day Run on Saturday, Sept. 15.

The emergency workers were dispatched to the race’s finish line on the Minuteman bike path behind Arlington High School at about 9 a.m. that morning for a report of a man with an apparent seizure.

Officer Michael Hogan, who was assigned to the Town Day festivities in the center, responded to the bike path’s Summer Street entrance and ran over to the victim. He was the first to arrive on scene.

Hogan quickly determined that the victim, who had finished the 2.7-mile race before collapsing, was unconscious, not breathing and had no pulse. He then radioed out that the victim appeared to be in cardiac arrest, and he cleared the victim’s airway and began chest compressions, according to police.

Officer Stephen Porciello was now on scene and began informing the arriving firefighters and EMTs of the situation. The area was still heavily congested with runners and spectators, according to police.

As Hogan continued chest compressions, fire and rescue workers evaluated the victim and deployed a portable defibrillator, police said. The victim was brought out of cardiac arrest by the responders and transported by ambulance to Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, police said.

The victim has been released from the hospital, and he and his family have said that they are extremely grateful to the responding officers, firefighters and EMTs and credited them with saving his life.

At last Monday's Board of Selectmen's meeting, on Sept. 24, Selectman Diane Mahon also thanked the responding personnel and applauded their efforts.