Sheriff Deputies Save Another Life in Rancho Santa Margarita

For the second time in a month, deputies patrolling Rancho Santa Margarita have saved a life.

The most recent event took place Thursday night at 8:40 p.m. when Orange County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to a 911 call that a 61-year-old man was not breathing.

Through efforts of three deputies from RSM and one from the Central Women's Jail, medics from the Orange County Fire Authority, and one private citizen, the city's population held firm for another day.

"I probably sound like an old broken record where I’m praising deputies and what a good job they do, but it’s a good record that’s worth playing over and over," said Lt. Brian Schmutz, chief of police services in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Dep. Brett Darnell, alone in his police cruiser, was the first to arrive—four minutes after the call—to the scene on Calle Ranchera.

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Darnell saw the victim on the floor, not breathing and without a pulse. He and the man's next-door neighbor began rescusitative efforts until a second deputy, Henry Cho, arrived carrying a defibrillator.

Darnell and Cho shocked the victim with the instrument, which was purchased a few years ago through a grant. While the machine analyzed the effects of the shock, Dep. Isaiah Hicks and his ride-along, Dep. Courtney Ward from the Central Women's Jail, arrived.

Hicks and Ward took over CPR duties until the arrival of paramedics from Station 45 of the Orange County Fire Authority.

OCFA attached its defibrillator and shocked the victim a second time and successfully reestablished a pulse. The victim began to breathe on his own, about 16 minutes after the incident was dispatched.

The man was transported to Mission Hospital. Less than two hours later, he was reported to be in stable condition in the intensive Care Unit.

"I'm happy to know that we were there for the gentleman and his family," Darnell said. "I wish him well and a speedy recovery."

OCFA Capt. Ed Harrod contacted the deputies and said that without their speedy action and life-saving effort the victim probably would not have survived.

Schmutz said it was also a good example of why lifesaving classes can be so important.

"This is a reminder to us as a community that it’s always a good idea to take advantage of CPR and first aid classes because you never know when you might need it," Schmutz said. "The neighbor played an important role."

It's the second time in 31 days that the deputies of RSM have been credited with saving a life. On June 4, Dep. Tim Africano from atop the fencing of the Banderas Bridge with one hand until deputies Dustin Fike and Mike Stout could arrive and help pull the boy to safety.

The men from the city for their Herculean effort.