Officers Hailed As Heroes, "Angels" After Saving Man's Life

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Two local police officers and an EMT are being hailed as heroes after saving the life of a man who collapsed in South Park.

It's a thank you note that means the world to Allegheny County Police Patrol Officer Keith Cecotti.

"To our angels, thank you so very much for saving my husband's life."

Officer Cecotti is one of those angels. On April 11, he raced to the aid of a man who collapsed while walking in South Park. It happened near the gazebo.

"We get the radio call that we had an elderly gentleman that was walking, he was out by the gazebo and he was down," said Officer Cecotti. "That's all we had was 'he was down.'"

Within seconds of arriving on scene, Officer Cecotti engaged his automated external defibrillator, which is a portable device that's always by his side.

KDKA's Kym Gable: "How often have you had to use yours?"

Officer Cecotti: "This was the fourth time I've used it in nine-and-a-half years."

Gable: "When you initially got there – no pulse, no breath."

Officer Cecotti: "He was just flat on his back not moving, nothing."

Officer Chris Swanson was next on the scene, together they started CPR.

"There was also a bystander who happened to be one of the EMTs," Officer Cecotti said. "We were doing CPR and then a shock again. We shocked him a second time, continued CPR, and then by that time the paramedics got there."

Eventually, the man started breathing and his heart started beating again. It was a moment of joy, relief and gratitude.

"Somebody goes down, we're here to help. We're trying to keep everybody safe," Officer Cecotti said.

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