Danbury Man Helps to Save Co-Worker's Life

DANBURY, CT — Two city-area men are being hailed for their quick action after they saved an MTA Metro-North employee who was suffering from a heart attack last month at the railroad's Brewster Yard, the train line announced Monday. Jeff Ballard, a Brewster Yardmaster from New Milford and Andrew McLellan, a Trainmaster from Danbury, were a part of a group of five men who saved the fellow employee.

Ballard was about to leave for the day when a colleague, who asked to remain anonymous, asked him "what does it feel when you’re having a heart attack?” To sign up for Danbury breaking news alerts and more, click here.

“He was gripping his chest; his glasses were off, and he looked ashen. He told me that he was in a lot of pain, had shortness of breath and that he’d killed half a roll of Rolaids in twenty minutes,” said Ballard in an MTA statement.

Ballard promptly gave the victim aspirin and took his pulse before calling two EMTs who work at Metro North's railroad. While waiting for EMS professionals to arrive, McClellan helped direct them upstairs to the scene.

“As scary as it was to see one of my co-workers and friends outside of work having a heart attack, it was incredibly reassuring to know that our own co-workers from Brewster mechanical are trained and equipped to respond to any medical emergency we have in literally a matter of seconds,” said McClellan in a statement.

The two employees who were EMTS, Brendan Szabo and Jeff Boyle, stayed with the victim until he got to Danbury Hospital. The five employees were recognized by Metro-North President Joseph Giulietti Monday.

“Quick action on the part of our Brewster District team saved this man’s life,” said Giulietti in a statement. “This incident demonstrates the character and compassion of Metro-North employees. They not only care about doing their jobs in an exemplary fashion, they care about one another. I’m proud to recognize Jeff, Brendan, Michele, Andrew and Jeff, and I thank them for their efforts.”

Image: (Left to Right) Michele Salvatore, Metro-North President Joseph Giulietti, Jeff Ballard, Jeffrey Boyle, Andrew McClellan, Brendan Szabo, MTA Police Chief Owen Monaghan, MTA Board's Metro-North Railroad Committee Chair Susan Metzger. (via the Metro-North Railroad)