Firefighters On Flight From Boston Save Man Suffering Seizure

BOSTON — It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's firefighters flying from Boston to Chicago coming to the rescue. North Attleboro Fire Chief Christopher Coleman and a group of several active and retired firefighters weren't wearing capes as they took to the skies, but they were the heroes a man aboard a Southwest Airlines flight needed, when the passenger had a medical emergency.

Coleman, Capt. George McKinnon, Capt. Josh Langille, Lt. Scott Langille, retired firefighters Jeff Badger and Rich McDonagh, and Foxborough firefighter Cory Shepardson saw a man in a row behind them experiencing symptoms of a seizure.

The firefighters sprung into action and began performing CPR on the unresponsive passenger. They then administered advance life support until the man's pulse returned, North Attleboro fire officials said.

Fire officials said the group of first responders kept the man stabilized for the rest of the flight, until he could be taken to a nearby hospital after landing at Midway International Airport.

"The heroic actions of these firefighters today echo our mantra that we are never truly off-duty should any emergency occur," said North Attleboro Deputy Fire Chief Michael Chabot. "These men are to be commended for their rapid response and lifesaving efforts that helped to stabilize this man mid-flight. Their swift action and determination, even at 30,000 feet in the air, is a testament to their unwavering preparedness and professionalism."

Coleman and the other firefighters were on the flight traveling to Denver to visit the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado Springs, in honor of firefighters who died, including North Attleboro firefighters Chris Cornetta and Jack White.