Massachusetts Trooper Saves Ex-firefighter
Posted: Monday, November 24, 2008
Updated: November 24th, 2008 11:54 AM GMT-05:00
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Jessica Van Sack
Boston Herald
--
Nov. 24--State trooper Mike Peters was driving on Route 28 in Wareham when a plume of smoke caught the corner of his eye.
"I just thought there was a house on fire," said Peters, 42, a K-9 officer and father of five assigned to the State Fire Marshal's office. "But then I saw that truck up against a tree."
It was Wednesday at about 2:30 p.m. and Peters was returning home from a training class at the Department of Fire Services in Stow. The truck's engine was howling as the tires spun and white and gray smoke pumped out. Peters, a former Randolph firefighter and EMT, reflexively ran toward the scene.
"I had never seen so much smoke in my life from spinning tires," Peters said.
Peters blindly felt around to the driver's door. There was a man inside. His body was limp and his foot still lay on the gas pedal.
"He had obviously suffered some medical condition," Peters said. "I checked him for a pulse. There was nothing. No breathing. No pulse."
A flow of adrenaline rushed over Peters as he swiftly scooped up the man from the truck and onto the grass. Peters knelt down and began pounding the man's chest and giving him mouth-to-mouth.
"I wasn't even thinking," Peters said. "You go right back into training mode. It's just ingrained in you."
Then, the anonymous man let out a deep gasp, a sign of life. Peters paused. He took the man's pulse, a detectable yet faint beat. Turning around, Peters saw patches of flames getting closer. As EMTs arrived, Peters began putting out the fires with his K-9's water rations.
At the time, he had no idea that he had just saved the life of another former jake, retired Carver Fire Department Capt. Richard Mazalewski, 63, who was later flown to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Peters' bold rescue caught the attention of State Police Col. Mark Delaney, who told the Herald, "He made this job proud."
As for Mazalewski, he returned home yesterday. His wife of 42 years, Joyce, believes the fact that she is spending the week preparing for Thanksgiving dinner instead of a funeral is all thanks to Peters.
"The doctors told us he was lucky to have even made it to the hospital," Joyce Mazalewski said. "It's definitely going to be a more thankful day this year."
jvansack@bostonherald.com
Posted: Monday, November 24, 2008
Updated: November 24th, 2008 11:54 AM GMT-05:00
Most Read Most E-mailed E-mail Article Print Article
Jessica Van Sack
Boston Herald
--
Nov. 24--State trooper Mike Peters was driving on Route 28 in Wareham when a plume of smoke caught the corner of his eye.
"I just thought there was a house on fire," said Peters, 42, a K-9 officer and father of five assigned to the State Fire Marshal's office. "But then I saw that truck up against a tree."
It was Wednesday at about 2:30 p.m. and Peters was returning home from a training class at the Department of Fire Services in Stow. The truck's engine was howling as the tires spun and white and gray smoke pumped out. Peters, a former Randolph firefighter and EMT, reflexively ran toward the scene.
"I had never seen so much smoke in my life from spinning tires," Peters said.
Peters blindly felt around to the driver's door. There was a man inside. His body was limp and his foot still lay on the gas pedal.
"He had obviously suffered some medical condition," Peters said. "I checked him for a pulse. There was nothing. No breathing. No pulse."
A flow of adrenaline rushed over Peters as he swiftly scooped up the man from the truck and onto the grass. Peters knelt down and began pounding the man's chest and giving him mouth-to-mouth.
"I wasn't even thinking," Peters said. "You go right back into training mode. It's just ingrained in you."
Then, the anonymous man let out a deep gasp, a sign of life. Peters paused. He took the man's pulse, a detectable yet faint beat. Turning around, Peters saw patches of flames getting closer. As EMTs arrived, Peters began putting out the fires with his K-9's water rations.
At the time, he had no idea that he had just saved the life of another former jake, retired Carver Fire Department Capt. Richard Mazalewski, 63, who was later flown to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Peters' bold rescue caught the attention of State Police Col. Mark Delaney, who told the Herald, "He made this job proud."
As for Mazalewski, he returned home yesterday. His wife of 42 years, Joyce, believes the fact that she is spending the week preparing for Thanksgiving dinner instead of a funeral is all thanks to Peters.
"The doctors told us he was lucky to have even made it to the hospital," Joyce Mazalewski said. "It's definitely going to be a more thankful day this year."
jvansack@bostonherald.com
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