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Injured Police Corporal Thanks First Responders

NORTH SHORE (KDKA) – A reunion tonight between a local police officer injured on the job and the first responders who saved his life.

It was the Great Save event at PNC Park – a powerful reminder of how two words can have a major impact.

"Just, thank you and we appreciate what you do," Brian Greenawalt, an EMT from Harmony, said.

And for Cranberry Township Police Corporal Dan Hahn, the power of "Thank You" was felt throughout a packed PNC Park before Tuesday night's Pirates/Brewers game as EMTs from Harmony were honored for saving his life.

"Thank you. I'd like to thank the community for being as warm and caring accepting as they have been," Hahn said.

Corporal Hahn suffered life-threatening injuries when he fell over a 20-foot wall off the Interstate-79 overpass while chasing a suspect in February.

EMTs provided oxygen and started IV's before a medical helicopter arrived.

"The way the scene was, I didn't think he was going to be around today, but he's here and we're grateful that he made it," Terri Raisley, an EMT, said.

With a broken neck, crushed sternum, and arm and shoulder damage, it was the EMS crew's extraordinary care to immobilize his spine that allows him be here today.

"If it weren't for them I don't know what Dan's condition would be," Fritz Hahn, the officer's wife, said. "It's really great to be able to be here and give them what they deserve."

A simple "thank you" to those who protect and serve goes a long way.

"Thank God for them," Hahn said. "And it doesn't hurt to walk past the uniform every once and a while and just tell them thank you for what they do because that goes a long way and that keeps me going."

Officer Dan Hahn can walk with the assistance of cane, but his goal is to ultimately be back on the job one day.

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