A Florida teen is being hailed a hero after he saved the life of a Fort Lauderdale police officer who arrested him earlier that day.
The 17-year-old, Jamal Rutledge, was being booked on charges of violation of probation for criminal mischief and burglary on Sept. 10 when Officer Franklin Foulks leaned back and fell from his chair.
Jamal, sitting just feet away from a collapsed Foulks, got up and began kicking the security fence to get the attention of other officers in the area. Minutes later, three officers arrived to find the 49-year-old semiconscious.
Foulks was clutching his chest when help arrived, according to Detective DeAnna Greenlaw.
According to the Sun Sentinel:
Sgt. Todd Bunin called Fire Rescue and then began to remove Foulks’ police gear and cut off his shirt, Greenlaw said.
Officers Robert Norvis and Raymond Ketchmark overheard Bunin’s radio transmission and arrived to assist.
Norvis began performing CPR on Foulks while Ketchmark grabbed a nearby defibrillator to begin stimulating Foulks’ heart.
Ketchmark also made direct contact with Fire Rescue crews to provide updates on what was going on. After Fire Rescue arrived, Foulks was taken to Broward Health Medical Center.
The entire incident was caught on surveillance video. Medical staff from Broward Health credited Jamal for responding quickly and alerting the officers — an action they say led to Foulks’ survival.
Foulks is currently on light duty and expected to return to full duty at the end of January, Greenlaw said.
The men and the teenager who saved his life will be publicly honored at the next Fort Lauderdale Commission Meeting held on January 21st.
SOURCE: Sun Sentinel | VIDEO SOURCE: News Inc.
