Man saved by actions of passing motorist
NEW BERLIN – A South New Berlin man suffering from a heart attack was saved on Tuesday.
The good Samaritan took a wrong turn down County Highway 23 and happened to witness another man collapse in his yard.
Rebecca Meek, the daughter of the heart attack victim, was grateful for the kindness and quick thinking of the stranger, and searched on social media until someone identified the man who saved her father.
Through her search she discovered Matthew Newman, a retired veteran, was the man who stopped to help. Meek's father, Richard Downey, was taken to the hospital by the Norwich Emergency Medical Services, and he survived the encounter.
"My father was outside working on a cart project, and he got off the lawn tractor to go sit in a chair," said Meek.
Meek said her father felt ill, and shortly after sitting down to rest, he collapsed.
Fortunately, Newman just happened to be driving by when he did.
"Those precious seconds that it took him to stop and get help saved my dad,” said Meek.
Newman said he saw the victim falling down, with his hand clutching his chest, and he knew he had to do something.
“I saw him go down, and it wasn't like a fall, it was slow and painful looking," he said. "My first thought was I need to go back because I had a sick feeling that [the situation] was very bad."
Newman said he saw someone in danger and wanted to help, but noted if he hadn't accidentally taken a wrong turn he wouldn't have been able to.
"I just wanted to help, and fortunately I just happened to take a wrong turn somehow. If I was a second later, or had went down the correct path, I would not have seen him.”
Meek said, “[Newman] is my hero, when the ambulance got there they didn't have much hope for my dad. He should not even be alive, and so I credit Mathew for saving his life.”
Pictured: Richard Downey, his wife Glenna Downey, and his grandson Robert Meek. (Submitted Photo)
The good Samaritan took a wrong turn down County Highway 23 and happened to witness another man collapse in his yard.
Rebecca Meek, the daughter of the heart attack victim, was grateful for the kindness and quick thinking of the stranger, and searched on social media until someone identified the man who saved her father.
Through her search she discovered Matthew Newman, a retired veteran, was the man who stopped to help. Meek's father, Richard Downey, was taken to the hospital by the Norwich Emergency Medical Services, and he survived the encounter.
"My father was outside working on a cart project, and he got off the lawn tractor to go sit in a chair," said Meek.
Meek said her father felt ill, and shortly after sitting down to rest, he collapsed.
Fortunately, Newman just happened to be driving by when he did.
"Those precious seconds that it took him to stop and get help saved my dad,” said Meek.
Newman said he saw the victim falling down, with his hand clutching his chest, and he knew he had to do something.
“I saw him go down, and it wasn't like a fall, it was slow and painful looking," he said. "My first thought was I need to go back because I had a sick feeling that [the situation] was very bad."
Newman said he saw someone in danger and wanted to help, but noted if he hadn't accidentally taken a wrong turn he wouldn't have been able to.
"I just wanted to help, and fortunately I just happened to take a wrong turn somehow. If I was a second later, or had went down the correct path, I would not have seen him.”
Meek said, “[Newman] is my hero, when the ambulance got there they didn't have much hope for my dad. He should not even be alive, and so I credit Mathew for saving his life.”
Pictured: Richard Downey, his wife Glenna Downey, and his grandson Robert Meek. (Submitted Photo)
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