By Jay Rey
The Buffalo News
TONAWANDA, N.Y. — A Town of Tonawanda police officer will have the chance on Thursday to publicly thank three colleagues for saving his life.
Capt. Frank McNamara, Det. Thomas Oswald and Officer Ryan Taber are being credited for saving the life of Officer Kevin Zuchlewski, who suffered a “sudden cardiac arrest” while at the police station last month.
Zuchlewski, 44, a 14-year veteran of the police force, lost consciousness in the police department locker room at about 2:45 p.m. on June 16, after finishing his workout, said Capt. Joseph F. Carosi.
Taber discovered Zuchlewski when he heard what he believed to be labored breathing toward the back of the locker room. Taber called for assistance, causing McNamara and Oswald to come running, Carosi said.
They couldn’t find a pulse for Zuchlewski. McNamara and Taber began chest compressions, while Oswald sought out an automated external defibrillator. Zuchlewski was given a shock and oxygen by the time paramedics arrived on the scene.
Zuchlewski underwent quintuple bypass surgery and is recovering, Carosi said.
Zuchlewski, a father of two, will have the chance to publicly thank Taber, Oswald and McNamara at 2 p.m. Thursday during an event at the Town of Tonawanda Police Headquarters, 1835 Sheridan Drive, where Chief Anthony Palumbo will also say a few words.
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