Off-duty first responders honored for saving life during hockey game at Mount Clemens Ice Rink – Macomb Daily

Rich Mazzella (in red shirt) stands with Derek Kull, Michael Schwartz, Todd Adams, James Penman, Sen. Kevin Hertel, Rep. Denise Mentzer and Mayor Laura Kropp during a recent City Council meeting. (MITCH HOTTS — THE MACOMB DAILY)

An off-duty team of first responders playing hockey in Mount Clemens demonstrated their teamwork in another way when an elderly man went into cardiac arrest during the game.

Their actions, knowing immediately what to do in an emergency, saved the man’s life and earned them a gesture of gratitude from the elected officials of Mount Clemens.

Mayor Laura Kropp and the City Council presented the group with a Citizen Hero Award certificate from the city last week, and State Rep. Denise Mentzer and State Sen. Kevin Hertel added a tribute from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The mayor said the award was “in recognition of (your) quick action and heroic effort in saving the life of Rich Mazzella.”

The awards were accepted by retired Roseville firefighter Michael Schwartz, retired Roseville Fire Chief Todd Adams, Monroe Fire Captain Derek Kull and Rochester Police Officer James Penman.

The four were part of a group playing hockey at the Mount Clemens Ice Rink with 84-year-old Rich Mazzella one February morning when Mazzella collapsed on the ice at the end of his second shift. They quickly jumped into action to assess the elderly man on the ice and determined he had suffered cardiac arrest.

While one of the group called 911, others retrieved the arena’s AED (automated external defibrillator) and used it to shock Mazzella, but his heart stopped beating, officials said.

The group then took turns performing CPR on the man, which caused Mazzella to regain his spontaneous heartbeat. A few minutes later, he began breathing on his own and regained consciousness.

“By the time the ambulance arrived, Mr. Mazzella, who was unaware of what had happened, was awake and talking to his rescuers,” Kropp said.

The mayor said Mazzella was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment. He has since returned to normal activities, she said.

After receiving their award from the city of Mount Clemens, the four men received a similar tribute thanking them for their “remarkable heroism,” which was signed by Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Hertel and Mentzer.

Mazella said he has played hockey with police officers and firefighters for the past 25 years and expressed gratitude for their life-saving actions.

He recalled the words of baseball legend Lou Gehrig, whose emotional farewell speech in 1939 included the line, “Today I consider myself the happiest man on earth.”

“That’s how I feel today,” Mazzella said. “I hope to be back on the ice.”

Mount Clemens administrators have become accustomed to handing out awards for heroic behavior.

In May, the city council honoured a team of three Priority Waste waste collectors who helped save the life of a 70-year-old woman they rescued from her burning home.

Employees Gary Whitcher, Keeyon Beaty Jr. and Norberto Altman each received a Citizen Hero Award from the city for their “courage and bravery” and a tribute from the governor.