A dynamic duo of Bergen police officers sprang into action Saturday and saved a woman who was choking at a local restaurant, police said.
At around 6:20 p.m. Saturday, Allendale Police Officers Alex Helmer and Sean Hubbard were directing traffic at the intersection of West Allendale Avenue and DeMercurio Drive, keeping cars away from the closed-off street, part of Allendale’s effort to reinvigorate local dining, said Police Chief George Scherb.
It was then that a breathless waiter from Mezza Luna, just down the block, came running to the officers, asking for help, he said.
“One of the waiters from Mezza Luna knew that our guys were down at the intersection there and ran down,” said Scherb. “He ran down to get them and to tell them what was going on.”
Together, the three men sprinted back down West Allendale Avenue to the aid of the 68-year-old Park Ridge woman, said Scherb. The woman’s husband had attempted the Heimlich Maneuver, but her airway was still blocked and the woman was no longer breathing or had a perceptible pulse, said Scherb.
Immediately, the officers began administering CPR to the woman, which dislodged some of the food, said Scherb. Then, the officers swept more of the food out until finally, the woman was able to breathe on her own again, he said.
“It was a pretty hairy couple of minutes,” said Scherb.
The officers estimated that the woman had not been breathing for a few minutes, he said. The woman fully recovered, said Scherb, refusing medical attention or to be taken to the hospital. The officers’ quick response and dogged efforts helped salvage what could have been a worse situation, he said.
“They really worked hard for this lady,” said Scherb. “And it shows.”
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Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com.