Massachusetts residents Gene Faynshteyn and Jeffrey Geloran have extra reasons to cherish this holiday season thanks to the life-saving efforts of Stoughton Police Department officers. After surviving separate critical medical emergencies, both men reunited with their rescuers on December 19 to express their heartfelt gratitude.
“The survival of these two gentlemen started with the bystanders who acted quickly and is attributed to the quick response from the Stoughton Police Department, the Stoughton Fire Department and our Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center dispatch,” Chief Donna McNamara said during the press conference. “These men are here today and able to celebrate the holiday season with their families because of the heroic actions of first responders.”
On the morning of November 25, Lieutenant Timothy Hansler, Detective Kevin Lima, and Officers Heather Cheever, Dominic Evangelista, Khang Lam and Albert Medeiros responded to a report of a driver experiencing a medical emergency near 470 Washington St. Faynshteyn was found slumped over and unconscious in his vehicle, later identified as a cardiac arrest.
Ashley Depina, a bystander, noticed the vehicle rolling through a red light and onto a curb. Realizing the severity of the situation, she safely used her car to stop Faynshteyn’s vehicle and immediately called 9-1-1.
Once officers arrived on the scene, they broke into the vehicle, removed Faynshteyn and began administering life-saving measures. “As a supervisor, it was really nice to see,” Lieutenant Hansler said. “Officer Cheever was doing her job, Officer Lam was doing his job, and I was able to stand back and assess the whole scene. It’s exactly what you want to see during a critical incident.”
Stoughton Fire Department EMTs soon took over care and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) before transporting Faynshteyn to the hospital. His survival was deemed “one in a million.”
“I’m very happy I’m here. It’s not enough of a thank you to these people who saved my life,” Faynshteyn said. “I’ll never forget this.”
A little over a week later, on December 6, Officer Michael Connelly was dispatched to FH Peterson Machine Corp for another cardiac arrest emergency. Employees had already begun CPR and used an AED to administer a shock to Geloran, who was unresponsive.
Marty Durbin, the company president, played a critical role, opening Geloran’s airway and starting chest compressions. Officer Connelly continued chest compressions and used the AED, ultimately reviving Geloran.
“You could tell FH Peterson had a great system and training in place,” Officer Connelly said. “They helped save Jeffrey’s life more than I did.”
The swift actions of the employees and first responders ensured that Geloran received the care he needed.
“I’m just so grateful. I feel more appreciative than I can express,” Geloran said. “I love these guys for what they did for me. I’ll forever be grateful.”
