Local News

Marblehead man wants to find the woman who helped save his life at Gillette Rolling Stones concert

Tony Palladino says the woman’s help was critical in saving his life when he went into cardiac arrest before the show.

By Beth Treffeisen

July 8, 2024

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Email
• Email
• 19

A Marblehead man hopes to find the stranger who helped save his life at a Rolling Stones concert at Gillette Stadium. 

Tony Palladino and his wife, both diehard fans of the rock band, were waiting for them to take the stage on May 30 when he suffered cardiac arrest. 

“I never saw them go on,” Palladino, 78, told Boston.com by phone on Monday morning. “I collapsed in my seat and literally died.”

If it weren’t for the woman who sprang into action to administer CPR, Palladino says, he might not be alive today. 

According to his wife, he said, the woman administered CPR until the Foxborough Fire Department took over, using defibrillator paddles to restart his heart. 

Palladino’s cardiologist said he is recovering well after a double bypass surgery.

Now, Palladino wants to thank the one person he hasn’t been able to. 

“I would really like to meet this person,” said Palladino. “She was so instrumental in me being in my condition today.”

It was the 14th time Palladino and his wife attended a Rolling Stones concert. He was in the third row, and the woman who helped save him jumped over from the first row. 

Palladino’s cardiologist told him he wouldn’t be here today if this happened when he was mowing the lawn. 

But, “being with 65,000 of my closest friends made the difference,” and “this one particular person made an enormous difference.” 

Anyone with information for Mr. Palladino can contact Boston.com reporter Beth Treffeisen at [email protected].