‘Miracle’ Rescue In NJ After Child Collapses At Indoor Playground

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police and a pair of bystanders rushed to the rescue of a child who collapsed and stopped breathing at an indoor playground venue in Fairfield last weekend.

According to the Fairfield Police Department, officers responded to Kids Empire on Route 46 West at 4:09 p.m. on Saturday after getting 911 calls about a medical emergency involving a 9-year-old child.

When officers arrived, two bystanders were performing CPR on the youth. The officers took over CPR duties until medical personnel arrived.

Emergency responders took the child to a nearby hospital for treatment. The youth’s condition has reportedly improved, but they will require more medical care, authorities said.

Fairfield police public information officer Stacy Chiarolanza called the rescue a “miracle,” and commended the involved officers: Sgt. Brian Sabatelli, Cpl. David Lagan, and officers Louis Bisciotti and Daniel Kalinowski.

“The immediate response by the two good Samaritans allowed officers and medical personnel the time to arrive without any delay to the child,” Chiarolanza said. “Performing CPR can be an emotional task, but having to do it on a child is something no one ever wants to do. There’s nothing more to say than this was the absolute best outcome for such a terrible situation.”

“We pray for the child and their family and hope for a full recovery,” Chiarolanza said.

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