Members of the North Attleborough Fire Department were recognized at the 33rd annual Firefighter of the Year Awards for saving a man’s life aboard a plane last year.
On Friday, Nov. 18, Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, and Public Safety Secretary Terrence M. Reidy joined State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey to honor firefighters from 17 Massachusetts fire departments at the ceremony, held at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.
During the ceremony, North Attleborough Fire Chief Christopher Coleman, Captain George McKinnon, Captain Josh Langille, Lt. Scott Langille, Lt. Jeff Badger (Retired), Firefighter Rich McDonagh (Retired) and Foxboro Firefighter/Paramedic Cory Shepardson were presented with a group Citation for Meritorious Conduct for their efforts in helping to save a man’s life who became unresponsive on a flight from Boston to Chicago on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.
“It’s an honor to be recognized alongside my fellow firefighters and friends at the 33rd annual Firefighter of the Year Awards,” Coleman said. “We had no idea what was going to happen when we got onto that flight that day, yet I’m extremely grateful we were all there and well-prepared with our EMS knowledge as we were able to save a life that day. I would like to personally recognize and thank Captain McKinnon, Captain Langille, Lt. Langille, Lt. Badger, and Firefighters McDonagh and Cory Shepardson for their response that day, as it truly was a joint effort.”
On Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, Coleman and several active and retired firefighters were on a Southwest Airlines flight traveling from Boston Logan International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport, when a man seated near them became unresponsive.
Coleman, McKinnon, Josh Langille, Scott Langille, Badger, McDonagh, and Shepardson were alerted to a man in a row behind them who was experiencing symptoms consistent with a seizure.
They quickly began performing CPR on the unresponsive man. Advanced life support was then administered until the man’s pulse returned. He was stabilized for the rest of the flight and transported to an area hospital upon arrival at Midway.
Coleman and the other firefighters were on the flight traveling to Denver to visit the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado Springs in honor of those who have passed away, including North Attleborough Firefighters Chris Cornetta and Jack White.
