By Joe Ragusa
NORMAL – The Normal Police Department is honoring one of its own for saving the life of a man who went into cardiac arrest in December.
Robert Krueger said he was working on a semi at Estes Trucking when he suddenly dropped his air chisel and blacked out, waking up about a hour-and-a-half later in a hospital bed.
“It was pretty weird,” Krueger said. “(The doctors) told me that I need to calm down because of a heart attack. I said, ‘Do what?’”
Officer Matthew Badalamenti was dispatched to the scene and performed life-saving CPR before paramedics arrived.
“When it happens, you’re not even really thinking about anything, this is just what needs to get done right now,” Badalamenti said.
Badalamenti was given the department’s “Lifesaving Award” for his actions that day.
Meanwhile, Krueger said he just wants to get back to work.
Joe Ragusa can be reached at joe.ragusa@cumulus.com.
