Woodbridge, New Jersey, Police Officer Robert "RJ" McPartland saved the life of a public works employee who was struck by lightning at Iselin Middle School earlier this week. The employee, Eric Baumgartner, a father of two and an 18-year veteran of the Woodbridge Parks department, was repainting soccer field lines when a rogue lightning bolt zapped him.
Baumgartner's coworkers immediately called 911 and Officer McPartland was on the scene within minutes. The three-year veteran of the local police who is also a certified EMT, found Baumgartner, quickly realized he didn’t have a pulse, and immediately started chest compressions.
Thankfully, the 39-year-old worker regained his pulse and consciousness by the time he was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, although he was confused about what had happened to him. Baumgartner was later reported to be in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery. The town's mayor, John McCormac, praised McPartland, saying he "can't be prouder of the job that our police officers do."
Source: ABC 7 NY