Police Explorer Helps Save a Life in Somers

Quick response by a teenaged Police Explorer is being credited with helping save the life of a man who was recently stricken ill in Somers.

Christopher Vieweg, 16, an Ellington High School student and a sergeant in the Enfield Police Explorers, was patrolling a walking path along Ninth District Road around 9 a.m. on June 1, as he and other Explorers were helping with the annual Paul Bowers Memorial Lacrosse Tournament.

Vieweg observed a man grabbing his chest with both hands, then saw the man fall to the ground. He rushed to the man's aid, determined he was not breathing and was turning blue around his lips, and began CPR, according to Det. Lt. Willie Pedemonti, advisor to the Explorers.

As Vieweg was working on the stricken victim, a nurse and a paramedic arrived at the scene and took over emergency care. Vieweg then helped keep control of the crowd, and maintained radio communication with emergency medical personnel, Pedemonti said.

The victim was successfully resuscitated, Pedemonti said, adding that he plans to submit a commendation for Vieweg for his heroic efforts.

"I am extremely proud of him," Pedemonti said. "You can only hope in an emergency situation that the response would be exactly the way he responded. He was very calm and showed extreme professionalism."