A Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company probationary officer saved a 46-year-old man’s life last Saturday after he went into cardiac arrest shortly after 6:15 p.m. at Memorial Field on Fairview Ave. in Great Neck.
Vigilant Fire Company firefighter Edwin Kokhabi was playing basketball with friends when he heard a woman screaming for anyone who knew CPR, according to a press release from the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company.
Kokhabi, who became a firefighter just a month ago, ran to the field and found the man lying face down on the ground not breathing.
Kokhabi quickly began to give chest compressions, which he had learned just two weeks earlier, until Nassau County Police arrived to the scene to take over, according to the release.
“I just did what firefighter Daniel Behnam taught me to do in training,” Kokhabi said.
The Vigilant Fire company was notified of the man in cardiac arrest at 6:21 p.m.
Three minutes later, Vigilant Paramedic Steven Blocker arrived on scene and immediately began advanced care for cardiac arrest, according to the release.
First Assistant Chief Joshua Charry and additional personnel arrived shortly after Blocker and spent 15 minutes on the soccer field, shocking the man’s heart four times, until a pulse returned, according to the release.
Vigilant Chief Josh Forst said the Great Neck Fire Alert Company also responded and assisted on scene.
“It wasn’t just me, it was the police officers, the other members and paramedics Charry and Blocker who did most of the work. They deserve the credit,” Kokhabi said.
Vigilant Chief Josh Forst commended Kokhabi for his actions, citing his immediate response despite his limited experience with the Vigilant Fire Company.
“This event goes to show that any member of the community can join the Fire Company and make a difference immediately,” Forst said. “Despite only being a member of the Fire Company for a month, probationary firefighter Kokhabi showed the type of instincts of a seasoned veteran member. Our members spend countless hours training for these moments and I am proud that probationary firefighter Kokhabi was able to positively affect the outcome by using his training.”
The stricken man, whose identity has not been revealed, was taken to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset where he is still hospitalized, but should be released later this week, Forst said.
The Vigilant Fire Company is an all volunteer fire company which provides fire and heavy rescue services to the villages of Great Neck Plaza, Kensington, Great Neck Estates, parts of Thomaston and the unincorporated area of the Town of North Hempstead on the Great Neck Peninsula.
The fire company also provides emergency medical services on the Great Neck peninsula from the Long Island Railroad tracks north to the Long Island Sound.
