Honorees helped two men who were in cardiac arrest
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
Chris Rothenberg and Robert Stemhagen have something impressive in common — their lives have been saved. On Monday night, those who saved them — police, residents and Merrill Lynch employees — were honored by Hopewell Township officials.
”There are no words I can use that are adequate to thank them. I owe them my life,” Mr. Stemhagen said of those saved his life.
”I couldn’t be any more grateful to my rescuers,” said Mr. Rothenberg. “I thank them wholeheartedly on behalf of my wife, children, family and friends.”
Both men were in cardiac arrest. Both were given vitally important medical assistance by residents and Merrill employees before police and ambulances arrived.
At Monday’s Hopewell Township Committee meeting, township police Officer Kevin Koveloski and residents Matthew Finnegan and Susan Rahilly — she’s Mr. Stemhagen’s sister — were given framed Life Saving Awards by police Chief George Meyer and the committee members.
Honored for saving Mr. Rothenberg’s life were Officer Louis Vastola and Merrill employees Victor Anabaronye, Guy Sirois and Brian Saglimben.
The dramatic stories of both rescues were told by Chief Meyer. Mr. Stemghagen’s went like this:
”On Sept. 14 Hopewell Township police received a 9-1-1 call for a possible cardiac arrest at a residence on Washington Crossing-Pennington Road,” the chief said. “Officer Kevin Koveloski as well as the Union Rescue Squad were dispatched to the residence.
”Officer Koveloski arrived and found a 44-year-old man unconscious and turning blue. Officer Koveloski also found that a neighbor, Matthew Finnegan, and a family member, Susan Rahilly, were in the process of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the victim.
”Officer Koveloski attached the semi-automatic external defibrillator that he had in his patrol car to the victim and administered an electrical shock in an attempt to restart the victim’s heart. CPR was then continued. After approximately two more minutes of CPR, Officer Koveloski administered a second shock.
”Once the defibrillator had analyzed the victim’s condition a third time, it indicated that no more shocks were advised. Shortly thereafter the victim began to breathe on his own and regained consciousness. Emergency medical service personnel arrived on the scene and took charge of further care and treatment of the victim.
”The survival of the victim in this case is directly attributed to the quick and decisive actions of Ms. Rahilly, Mr. Finnegan and Officer Koveloski.”
Mr. Rothenberg’s rescue unfolded as follows:
”On Sept. 25, Hopewell Township police received a 9-1-1 call for a person having fallen at the Merrill Lynch Campus off of Scotch Road,” Chief Meyer said. “Officer Louis Vastola along with the Hopewell Emergency Services medical unit were directed to respond. While on his way to the call Officer Vastola heard the dispatcher upgrade the call to a cardiac arrest.
”Officer Vastola arrived and found a 55-year-old man unconscious and purple in color.
”At the same time Officer Koveloski observed that several people, later found to be Merrill Lynch employees, were performing emergency medical procedures on the victim.
”Officer Vastola determined that the victim was not breathing and had no pulse. He attached the semi- automatic external defibrillator from his patrol car to the victim and administered an electrical shock in an attempt to restart the victim’s heart. CPR was then continued, utilizing oxygen and a bag valve mask also from Officer Vastola’s car. Emergency medical service personnel arrived on the scene and took over care and treatment of the victim. Just prior to being loaded into an ambulance the victim’s pulse returned and he began breathing. He was then transported to the hospital where he underwent further emergency medical treatment. The victim made a full recovery.
”The survival of the victim in this case is directly attributed to the quick and decisive actions of Merrill Lynch employees Brian Saglimben, Victor Anabaronye and Guy Sirois as well as Officer Vastola. Had the victim’s co-workers not acted, it may have been too late when Officer Vastola arrived.”

